A/N: Biiig hugs and kisses to my reviewers and to those who gave constructive criticism, I'm really glad you are liking the story so far. First of all I would like to apologise for the demand of reviews in exchange for another chapter, it was wrong of me and I don't know what was going through my head. I have no excuse for that kind of rudeness apart from I'm really insecure about my writing. So once again I apologise… anyways on to the next chapter *thinking* … seriously I'm gonna have to start coming up with names for these chapters. Oohh and, and, and I've started answering reviews personally, because if everyone can take out of their time to review me then, I can take my time to answer each one personally *whispers to the side* I hope. LOL! Enjoy everyone and merry Xmas.

Angel xoxoxo

*runs back on stage* oh by the way, none of the canon characters belong to me, if they did I know a lot of stories on FanFiction would be movies by now if I had my way.

The Present

Hermione looked at Harry like he had just sprouted Hippogriff wings, did she honestly just hear the so-called Golden Boy (stupid nickname) tell her that they were going to visit Voldemort like they had been invited to tea?

"No."

Harry looked at Hermione – sorry Amara- as if he knew she was going to protest, "Amara, we have to-"

He didn't manage to finish his statement as she had her wand pressed against his heart in a millisecond, "My. Name. Is. Hermione. Granger. Do. Not. Call. Me. That. Name."

Her jaw was so tight he could almost hear her teeth grinding together, he could tell how angry she was just by the stillness of her body.

She snarled, "I am not going to walk straight into the snake's den just so that we can prove something that we can't verify, I would rather be given a whole bottle of Draught of Living Death to down. I suggest we go to Grimmauld Place and see what we can find about what on earth has happened to me, because as it is this is starting to sound like a big joke."

All throughout their exchange Bella had been watching quietly, swinging her head from side to side like she was watching a tennis match and decided to offer an unbiased opinion.

"Ama-, sorry Miss Granger, I have memories of you as a baby and what your parents went through after you had been kidnapped, if I could bring a Pensieve we could view them."

But Hermione refused to see reason, with her eyes still on Harry she answered, "they are not my parents. Mrs Lestrange, I don't want to insult you as you are apparently a good friend of Harry's but please butt out."

Bella wisely remained silent. Harry was not surprised by Hermione's outburst but yet he was confused as to why she thought they shouldn't go to see Tom. Once again, as only a best friend could do, she read his mind.

"Hadrian James Potter, unless you have conveniently become best friends, you are the Boy Who Lived and I'm pretty sure that Voldemort wouldn't appreciate you just walking into his hideout, fortress or wherever he is."

Harry winced at the pure acid in her tone, he ran his hands through his unruly hair making it stick up more, which Hermione; although angry with him automatically reached out to neaten up. He smiled at this action, it was one she had been doing since fourth year. She was always exasperated by his hair but he knew that she wouldn't have it any other way. He caught her hand as it slid down to his cheek and held it there, he wasn't used to her new eyes but he could still see her thoughts and feeling quite easily, her face had always been expressive.

Hermione was feeling breathless, like all the air had been sucked out of the room, it was like Harry was trying to peer into her soul. He had always had this effect on Hermione and usually she didn't understand why. She couldn't tear her eyes away from him as his eyes restlessly roamed her unfamiliar facial features. She turned away before he could sense the change in her breathing pattern.

She closed her eyes, a migraine building at the back of her head, "please, I can't stay here, just please Harry, let me at least go to Grimmauld Place to think. You can't expect me to make a life changing decision within a day, you know I'm not like that, I don't want to look back on today and think I was delusional… so please?"

She was close to whimpering now and Harry gathered her slight frame in his arms, if there was one thing in the world that he hated it was a sad Hermione. It just wasn't right, he would do anything to make sure that his beloved would always have a smile on her face. He sighed quietly, if only he could gather up the courage to tell her that, then all would be right with the world.

He turned to Bella who watching him in amusement, she knew of his love for Hermione and she was always trying to persuade him to tell her and every single time he answered with "when the time is right Trixie, I'll tell her."

He ignored her expression, "Bella I'm going to take her to Grimmauld Place and let her think it through, she needs time to adjust. We will hopefully be back soon, and then we can decide the best course of action."

She nodded, "alright Harry, but be warned, something is different about him lately and I intend to find out what. He has been less violent, almost like he is regaining sanity. If it comes to that he will tear apart our world looking for her and Alecto. Please keep her safe."

Harry nodded and picked Hermione up bridal style, walked into the Floo and walked out into Grimmauld Place. It still looked as dismal as ever, he just hoped he could find a suitable room for the girl who had fallen asleep in his arms.

"Kreacher!"

The most ugliest house elf in existence popped into the kitchen, wearing a filthy pillow case; he bowed low while simultaneously giving his master the dirtiest look ever.

Harry chuckled, he never changed "make up a room for Miss Granger and I. We will both be staying here for a period of time

"of course master. As you wish, filthy half blood bringing in the mudblood. Oh what would Kreacher's old mistress say, when she saw the filth that was being brought into her noble, pure house? Oh the shame."

Harry laughed at him and took Hermione into her room, pulled the covers back; took off her shoes and pulled the covers over her. He took a minute, or five, to just watch her. It was amazing how relaxed she looked while sleeping, it was all the things she worried about; mostly him, just left her mind for a few precious hours. He sighed and swiftly left the room, intent on finding information about this whole debacle of a day, when Hermione was ready they would talk.

TWO WEEKS LATER

A knock.

"Hermione?"

Another knock.

"Hermione, you're going to have to talk about it sometime."

Silence. He sighed then walked away. It had been two weeks since Harry and Hermione had arrived at Grimmauld Place and she had not left her room once. Not only was Harry getting lonely without his best friend, but he was worried that she was going to do something drastic. Every day he left a tray of food outside her door because he didn't want her to starve. Every evening he knocked on her door hoping she would open it up, she had cast some powerful wards that repelled magic, and no matter what he did he couldn't tear them down.

Short of blowing down the door with dynamite, all he could do was wait it out. He sat down at the kitchen table and ran his hands though his hair. He froze when he felt another pair of hands flattening it out again.

"I can't take off the locket."

It was a small whisper, as if the person hadn't spoken for a while. He turned around and gazed steadily at her, she had deep bags under her eyes, her lips were raw; as if she had been nibbling on them constantly and she was dressed in his Quidditch jersey and shorts. He gulped at the expanse of smooth skin on show and quickly focused on her statement.

"I'm sorry, what?"

She sighed and plopped down onto his lap, snuggling up to him. He really wished she would stop shifting on his lap, or else she would feel something other than his wand.

" I can't take off the locket" she repeated, showing him said locket around her neck, "it's like it's been fused to my skin. I've been trying to take it off but it refuses to budge."

He fingered the locket around her delicate neck and dropped it as if he had been electrocuted.

"Harry, what's wrong? Are you alright?"

He didn't answer at first, "as I held it, I got this flash of a scene. A baby and a woman just sitting in a nursery; then it stopped."

Hermione sighed and dropped her head onto Harry's chest, she was feeling quite conflicted right now. She was burning to find out about Tom Riddle and Alecto Carrow, yet at the same time; the thought repulsed her.

"So what do I do now?"

He lifted her chin, "what do you mean I? We're in this together Hermione, forever and always remember?"

He held out his pinkie and she hooked hers into it, smiling "forever and always Harry."

They sat in the peaceful silence of the house. Forever and always they would have each other's back, it would always be them against the world. But with this new development in their lives would they be torn apart?

A/N: whooo! I was so glad I managed to get this chapter out before Xmas day. You should've seen me banging it out on my laptop. Remember reviews are my personal source of high, I'll see you all in the New Year.

Loads of love

Angel