There were many times in his life when Harry Potter didn't quite understand what was going on around him. He usually let Hermione do her thing and he knew she would fill him in later. However as he sat in front of McGonagall's desk while she and Hermione had a blatant argument, he couldn't help but feel resentful. As soon as the three girls had gotten out of the pensieve there had been a multitude of arguing going around. The only other person in the room whom Harry felt somewhat close to at that moment was Ginny. She, like himself, didn't seem to be saying anything. She, like himself, was sitting staring at the bickering women.
When McGonagall slammed the book she had been holding on the desk, he decided it was time he interfered. Standing up, Harry said calmly "Alright. That's enough from the both of you, now would someone please inform me on what happened in the memory?"
Surprising everyone, it was not one the arguers that answered. Ginny also stood. "They've figured out the ingredients, that's not what they're arguing about. They're arguing over when they're sending me back to my dimension. They're acting like I don't even get a say in when I leave." She glared at both the girls. "I came here to find help. It's really wonderful that you all have managed to defeat the dark lord in this world, but in my world we're still being slaughtered and we all have no hope of redemption. I came for help, and if you all believe you're above helping me, then by Merlin's sake I will find someone who will."
"Ginny, it's not that we don't wish to help, it's just that we've all been through so much here already, we have our own world to think about. Please understand." Hermione begged.
Silence fell upon the group, no one spoke. Just when Harry was about to speak up, someone else beat him to it. "I will go with her."
Harry knew that voice anywhere, and he realized he should have known a simple petricus totalus wouldn't have held him, Harry turned to see where the voice had come from to see his best friend pulling off his own invisibility cloak.
"Ron!" Hermione gasped when she spotted him. No one was sure whether she was surprised by what he said or the mere fact that he was there. "Why did you come up here?"
Ignoring Hermione, Ron looked at Ginny. "I'll go with you."
"Ron, you can't be serious! After everything we've been through, you're willing to go through it again? All for the same girl you called an imposter just a few hours ago?"
"Hermione, I watched the memories." He looked at Ginny again."I can't leave them all to die." He looked at Harry."And I know that Harry agrees."
All three women looked at Harry, who looked at each in turn, then turned back to Ron. "He's right of course. I've been thinking about it since she arrived here. I've always planned on going back with her."
"Harry, you can't be serious! After everything you've been through?" Hermione exclaimed dumbstruck.
Harry looked at her with pity. "Hermione, all I've ever been was the 'boy who lived'. Now that everything is over and Voldemort is dead, what is left for me? Hogwarts? I'm over age now. My parents are dead, Dumbledore is dead, and Sirius is dead. What do I have to live for? I have nothing left."
"Oh Harry, but you have Teddy to look after, Lupin entrusted you to take care of him, you can't just abandom him."
"And I won't Hermione, he will go with his grandparents. They'll be more than happy to accommodate him. There's little chance he'll have the life I did."
"But Harry..." Hermione let swipped her tears before they made their way down her cheeks. She then looked at both boys. "Well, if you're both going, and you're both completely sure this is what you want to do, then you can't last more than two days without me. I guess that means I'm coming also." She grabbed a hold of Ron's arm as he took her hand. "But only if you're both positive this is what you want to do." She added as if hoping they would change their minds.
"I'm positive Hermione." Harry answered.
That very night the trio and Ginny started laying out their plans for the trip they were about to undertake. Ginny was relieved she found the help she was looking for. She knew that it was asking quite a bit of the trio to help her, but she knew that only they could manage it.
"Okay, we can't just go into this lightly. We need all the facts about Voldemort and the war before we just jump in." Hermione reasoned. Then turning to Ginny, she asked "Do you know what a Horcrux is?"
"A what?" Ginny asked confused.
"Okay, so she's never heard of horcuxes." Ron interjected. "But then what is keeping Voldemort alive?"
"That doesn't mean they don't exist, Ron." Hermione said with a wave of her hand. "They could exist and no one knows about them."
"But Dumbledore. Wouldn't he know about them? He's the one who instructed me."
Ron slammed down in the nearest chair by the Gryffindor fireplace. "This is hopeless. We don't know anything about their world, how are we going to rush in and save it?"
The group went silent, each contemplating on the situation trying to find their solution. Ginny was trying to find the answers to their questions. Horcuxes? What in the world is that? She was then brought out of her thoughts and memories by Harry who stood up abruptly.
"We agree we don't know if the horcruxes exist, then that's where we need to start. We know where all of them were in our world, I say when we get to the otherside, that's where we begin, we see if they're there."
"You mean, you're suggesting us go gallivanting right back into Gringotts without even knowing if its in there or not? Harry, that's mental!"
"No, Ron, Harry's right. That's the only logical place to start. Maybe not Gringotts just yet, but we can start at the cave or Little Hangleton."
Ron shuddered. "The cave. I don't fancy seeing that place. Can we try Little Hangleton first?"
"Dumbledore was the one to retrieve the ring. If we start there and it isn't there, then we should also try the cave, just in case."
"However, even so, Harry, remember? Regulus got the locket. Then maybe we should start at Grimmauld?" Hermione said.
"Not unless you're ready to face the entire Order." Ginny interjected.
"No," Harry said. "No, we're not ready for that. It would be easier to search for the horcruxes without them."
Ginny could have sworn she caught a glimpse of pain cross Harry's face. Before she could reflect on it however, Hermione spoke "No, maybe not the whole Order, but we could speak with Dumbledore. Harry, just listen to me. We need his history. We could get answers to these questions we have."
Harry sat back down. Ginny could tell he was contemplating. When he looked up, the group waited with bated breath. "You're right. We'll meet up with Dumbledore first thing. But we need to find a safe place away from the Order. Any ideas Ginny?"
Glad to finally feel useful, Ginny answered, "The Burrow. No one is there, they're all staying at Grimmauld Place."
"You're sure? No one will pop in?" Hermione sounded concerned.
"Positive. They're all at headquarters. Mum didn't want any more of us separated."
"Right. What do you think Harry?"
"It will do. Hermione, charm some bags for us to use to bring what we can. And gather anything you think will be useful. We leave in the morning."