Chapter 21 - A Life Relived and Memory (Prompts)

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It was with great reluctance that Harry allowed himself to be dragged after Ron by Hermione.

"You need to talk to him."

"I need to do no such thing."

She tugged on his arm roughly. "He doesn't understand why we did what we did. That's why he's acting that way."

Harry looked at her incredulously. "And what do you expect me to do about it? Put him on my lap and explain why using the Stone is wrong?"

She rolled her eyes. "For lack of a better imagery, yes."

Harry tried to stop walking, not for the first time, only to be forcibly dragged by her again.

"This is why I didn't want to tell him about the Stone. I was afraid of another argument."

"That worked out well, didn't it?" Harry mumbled dryly.

Hermione smiled humorlessly. "His temper is something. I always seem to make things worse." She looked at him meaningfully. "Which is why you should be the one to talk to him."

"I don't know if you noticed back there, but I'm currently mad at him myself. I have no desire to explain anything."

They stopped suddenly when they saw Ron moodily kick a rock. "Then do it for me," Hermione said softly, "for us."

Harry felt himself inwardly groan. One of his many weaknesses that Hermione loved to exploit was his need to do things that she wanted. "Fine. But if he doesn't budge, I'm leaving."

"Thank you, Harry." Hermione smiled at him gratefully before letting go of his arm. He immediately missed the contact and mentally kicked himself for doing something he didn't like just to make her smile. Taking a deep breath to prepare himself, he walked towards Ron.

"Find anything yet?"

Ron scoffed before looking over his shoulder. "Is that supposed to be funny?"

Harry shrugged. "A little. Yeah."

Ron rewarded his attempt at a conversation with silence, choosing to walk away from him. Harry followed silently.

"You don't get it."

"Don't get what?" Ron asked reluctantly as he kept walking.

It was obvious to Harry that Ron was trying to ignore his presence, but was failing miserably at it. "You don't get the feeling that comes over you when you hold the Stone."

That made Ron stop in his tracks. He waited impatiently until Harry joined him. "Is this another one of your plans to stop me from getting it?"

"No," Harry said honestly. "It's the truth. When I went back to bury the Stone..." He trailed off, unsure of how to explain how he felt at that time.

"Yeah?" Ron nudged him.

Harry cleared his throat before continuing. "I felt this...magnetism towards it. It wasn't easy letting go. That need to see them is overwhelming. I don't think I could have stopped using the Resurrection Stone. Ever."

Ron shook his head, almost as if he refused to believe what his friend was telling him. "You left it though, didn't you?"

"Only because of Hermione. If she wasn't there..."

"What are you saying, mate? That you don't think I'm strong enough?"

Harry shook his head quickly. "No. I don't think anyone's strong enough. Ever since I buried it, not a moment has passed when I don't think of coming back and getting it. It's addictive, Ron."

"All I want is to use it once. Just to see Fred. That's all. I'll put it back and then we'll all be done with it."

"But that's the thing, isn't it? It's not Fred. He won't be a life relived, but a memory."

But Ron looked at him in determination. "You got to see your parents. Why shouldn't I get the same chance?"

"Because I did it while there was a war going on. If I used it now..." Harry shrugged. "I can tell you that anytime I feel lonely or upset, I will have to fight the urge to come here and get it."

"And why should you be the only one who has that option?" Ron questioned dryly.

"I don't want to have that option," Harry said slowly, a thought materializing in his mind. "Which is why you should Obliviate me."

Ron looked at him incredulously. "What?"

Harry simply eyed him in expectation. "Go on. Draw your wand."

Ron shifted uncomfortably before his eyes fell on Hermione, who was watching them silently from a fair distance away. "You're mental."

"Maybe. But I'm not wrong about this."

Ron eyed him warily, a battle raging within him before he let out a defeated sigh. "You know I won't do that."

"I'm asking you to."

"Well, I'm not bloody listening, am I?" Ron let out another sigh. "I don't like this. I want that Stone."

"I know," Harry said gently.

Ron looked at him hopefully. "If ever I need it, you'll tell me where it is?"

Harry sent him a meaningful look.

"Right." Ron shifted a little before his eyes fell on Hermione. "She knew, didn't she? The whole time?"

Harry looked over his shoulder at her as she waited patiently for them to have it out. Once his gaze met his best mate's, he nodded.

"Thought so," Ron said softly. The words sounded so...final.

Together, they made their way to the third member of the trio. Harry found his mind occupied with the extremely attractive idea of forgetting where the Resurrection Stone was buried as well as certain other memories that had invariably changed how he currently acted towards his other best friend.

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