Harry's visions kept getting worse, and he did his best to hide them. It would always be the same one—that same one at Ron's wedding. However, sometimes being tortured, killed, left alone, and many more. The lying he provided was convincing enough to get an "okay" from Ron and Hermione. And on top of all of that, Harry stressed on what to work and specialise in for work. Hermione wanted to work in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures to raise awareness for S.P.E.W. and for all creatures in the wizarding world, and after Fred's death, Ron wanted to continue his legacy by working in the joke shop with George. Harry didn't have an area to live in after he leaves the Burrow on the same day as Hermione, where she will flee to Australia to visit her parents as friends and then come back and stay at her house. Harry tried to go to 12 Grimmauld Place, but Ron and Hermione didn't like the sound of Harry staying alone. They had an argument over this, but they still came back to help Harry. "Harry, I just don't like seeing you in pain, and after that dream you had of me and Ron, I don't want you to be lonely either." Hermione said. "What dream?" Ron asked, as it was the first time he was hearing this. "Nothing, Ron; if you're going to be here to watch, you might as well leave, but if you're here to help me convince Harry to stay somewhere else with people, then I would very much appreciate your help." Hermione retaliated. "Guys, I'm a grown person and of age; I don't need you guys telling me where to live and where to not live. I'm going to go pack my things to head to Grimmauld Place. Okay?" Hermione mumbled, and then a sudden idea popped into her mind. "Harry! What if you stay in my house? We have an extra room, and my parents are gone, so obviously they don't care." Harry winced at Hermione talking about her parents; he hated that there was no spell to revert their memories. "Hermione, obviously Ron wouldn't approve of this; imagine a guy's best friend sleeping in the same house as his girlfriend. Also, you're going to go and visit your parents; you and your parents need to enjoy time alone before I can even visit." Harry was surprised at how well he worded this as compared to their previous argument. "I don't mind, mate, just know that we were dating, so don't do any funny business or I'll come." "Ronald!" Hermione interjected. Ron shrugged before they all burst out laughing. "Still, your parents need alone time with you, so I don't know how long you will take to comeback." Harry said, knowing that this answer would do. However, he was talking to Hermione, so she would find a way. "Please, my parents have been dying to meet you since they've heard of you in 1st year; they've dreamed of meeting Harry, my bestest friend, the one who had come and saved me from a troll. So if they can't anymore, at least come live with me so I don't have to be lonely. So please come with me; I don't want to separate all of us just yet." "Hey! I saved you from a troll too!" Ron said with a frown. "Yeah, well, you wouldn't have even thought about me if Harry hadn't said anything; he's the reason we all became friends anyway." Harry thought about being with Hermione in the house and seeing there was no way out of this one; he agreed, but the conversation still went on. "What am I supposed to do about work? The time I'm there, I need to pitch in on the monthly bills; I'm not going to allow you to pay for everything." Ron looked confused. "Monthly bills? What is a monthly bill? Are you talking about my brother?" Harry and Hermione both looked at each other before laughing really hard. "It's like after you eat out, you pay a bill. So when we use the water, electricity, or heat, we need to pay a monthly bill." Ron looked shocked. "You guys have to pay for that stuff?" "Obviously, we aren't wizards or witches. Our house isn't connected to the ministry, where they have the magic water and light." Ron looked like he had a smart answer in his brain. "So then connect it to the ministry!" "It's a lot harder than you think, Ron, and Hermione, back on topic, what am I supposed to do about work?" Hermione had been waiting for this question. "You can become an auror! Surely after defeating Voldemort, you can get a job as an Auror." Harry looked sad and said, "I want to, but only with Ron. It won't feel right if I become an auror without him." Harry's tone changed over the sentence, and Ron replied. "If you really want to and this will be the only way for you to actually live somewhere good, then I'll be an Auror." "But you have the joke shop to worry about!" Harry said. Ron looked like he was tired and said, "Are you trying to annoy us? I said I've got it, and if you haven't cared to notice, Lee is offering to work at the shop so I can stay and work with you." "Ron! This is only going to make Harry feel bad about himself, and no need to use that tone of yours!" "Sorry." Ron said in a sarcastic voice. "Well, now I'm forcing you!" Harry said, "I don't want to work with someone who is being forced to work with me." Something clicked in Hermione's brain; it was like anger was taking over control of her mind. "HARRY JAMES POTTER! THAT IS IT. YOU GUYS ARE ACTING LIKE CHILDREN, AND IT'S NOT FUN TO SEE. RONALD WILL WORK WITH YOU AS AN AUROR AND YOU WILL LIVE IN MY HOUSE. THAT IS IT. NO TALKING AND NO REPLIES!" Hermione stormed off and slammed her door before jumping on her bed. Honestly, how hard is it to protect my friend? My best friend. Hermione thought. She could hear Harry and Ron laughing before she yelled at them. "QUIT IT OR ELSE I WILL COME THERE MYSELF AND STRANGLE YOU." She heard their laughter die down in an instant before she heard footsteps going their opposite ways. One directly toward her, she heard a knock. "Oh, honestly, Ron, I don't want to cuddle right now; give me a break!" "It's me." Harry said before coming into the room. Hermione felt a wave of relief wash over her. Merlin's beard, why am I happy that my best friend decided to come instead of my boyfriend? Why do I keep having these thoughts? Do I like Harry? No, it can't be. Me and Ron kissed in the battle; it was strong love. "After hearing what you just said, I might vomit." Harry said while they both laughed. "I was here to ask if you wanted to start packing. You know, I have to go to your parents house and the ministry after three days, so we don't have time." A huge smile spread across her face. Gosh, I love it when she smiles like that. Oh my god, what did I just think? Why am I attracted to her? Do I love her? No, it cannot be. She loves Ron too deeply anyway, so I don't know how I could love her.
Wow, I could stare at those emerald eyes all day. Why is Harry so cute? Oh, MY God, Hermione, pull yourself together. You're in love with Ron. "I say we pack everything besides two outfits. One for today and one for tomorrow. Okay?" Hermione agreed to this information without really listening; she was too busy staring into Harry's emerald eyes. Before Harry could leave. She tried to speak, and after stammering really hard, it finally came out. "Harry, I don't want to go to Australia alone. It would be my first time travelling alone; I know I can't revert their memories, but I want to see them, talk to them, and be their friends. I already asked Ron, and he said he couldn't. Can you please be there with me?" Am I just a backup, or a second option? Am I not wanted anymore? Why am I a last resort? Harry stared into her chocolate eyes, which were glowing from the light. "Okay, if you need me to protect you, I'll be there." Harry shrugged. Hermione ran to him and hugged him. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Harry left to go start packing his stuff, and Hermione began the second his eyes were gone.
Harry went to Ron's room and started grabbing his clothes from the closet. Identifying each piece to find the two pairs he was going to keep (and his pyjamas, of course). He didn't tell Ron about his trip to Australia, as he knew that Ron was already a bit off after Hermione offered Harry a room at her house and Ron would get really mad if he figured out Harry and Hermione were planning a trip together, alone. He still talked with Ron and even shared some laughs. "Nervous, are you? You know, about life and everything," Ron said. Realising this had hit a soft spot of worry in Harry's heart, he quickly changed the topic. "You know Hermione really cares for you; always has. Whenever you had your connections with Voldemort, she would always freak out and sometimes even cry. She just worries about you, your future, and what you're going to do with your life." Harry had sniffled at this information. Had Hermione always been there for him? Obviously, without a doubt. He answered himself. Has his feelings really hurt people? Were they that hurtful, that bad? It seems normal to me, though? Does my trauma affect others? Is this my fault? Yes, it is; everything's my fault! If my parents hadn't had a baby in the first place, everything would be normal. Fred, Moony, Tonks, my parents, Hermione's parents—I could sit here for hours saying everyone's names. Am I worth living for? Should I leave? Should I wander off the earth never to be seen? Harry had decided to take a break from the conversation with Ron. He had stayed with him even after finishing packing. He walked down the stairs to find Ginny. on the couch with Luna. "Oh, hey Harry!" Luna said. "Me and Ginny were just talking about Wrackspurts and why they make your brain go fuzzy." Harry nodded at this, thinking that they were just part of her imagination, but he still couldn't think clearly. Harry gestured a wave towards Ginny, which she returned, and Harry sat down in one of the chairs. He kept staring at the wall, zoning out. How are he and Hermione going to do this? How are they going to go to Australia without having Ron find out? How were they going to find out where Hermione's parents were staying? After all, she just sent them to Australia, not an exact location. They could be anywhere in the country. He would have to discuss this with Hermione. Without having Ron come take her to snog her every five minutes. Minutes passed, even hours. Ginny was already upstairs, in bed, and Luna had left a couple of hours ago, but Harry stayed, staring into the wall. Thinking about his life choices. What could've been different? What could've he done differently? To keep people safe, to do the easiest, quickest option. When all of a sudden Hermione came downstairs and noticed Harry sitting. "Harry? You're still zoning out? It was time for bed hours ago. Come on, you need to sleep and get some rest." Harry didn't answer. He kept thinking about how his life was something no one should go through. How he could've stayed dead instead of going back to live through more trauma. "Harry, come on, you haven't been answering anyone, and it's too late for you to continue zoning out." Hermione was worried; she was really worried. Harry decided to open up and talk to Hermione. She was, after all, the only one he could completely open up to; they shared a bond. "Hermione." Harry sniffled. "Do you think I'm someone worth living for? Do you think I should have stayed dead and not come back? I'm just tired of all of this. All of this trauma and suffering. I want out. I want to unalive myself." Harry could not keep it in anymore. He let those tears fall; they kept coming and pouring down like a river, and so were Hermione's eyes. She couldn't speak but really tried. Hoping to keep Harry alive. Hoping to protect him. "Oh Harry. You are the bestest friend anyone could ask for. You were there for me when I needed my crying. You were there for me when I needed a shoulder to lay on. You were there for me to cheer me up when I felt sad. You were there for me when I needed protection, and without you, I would've died in my first year." Hermione finished crawling into Harry's arms, and they both kept crying, just staying there hugging. Letting it all out. "Please, Harry, don't kill yourself. I couldn't live with myself if I knew that you unalived yourself just to stop the pain. The pain from which you most suffered. If you go, I would follow without a doubt. You were there for me all those times. I don't want to continue my life without you in it. Out of all the stars in my eyes, you shine the brightest. They stopped talking and kept hugging each other until Hermione fell asleep on his shoulder. Harry would've loved to stay, but knowing Ron he wouldn't want to betray him. His best mate. So he moved Hermione up against the pillow and went on the other side of the couch, barely awake. Harry fell asleep, and soon enough, Hermione, unaware, moved and accidentally fell on top of Harry, laying on his chest. This wouldn't be enough to wake her or Harry, though. They both lay there. Sleeping. Unaware of what would happen tomorrow.
