Harry Potter and the return of the Dementors

Harry Potter and the return of the Dementors (10/10)

---------------------- Chapter 10 ----------------------

Eventually, the confirmation that most of Hogwarts' students were waiting for arrived, in Harry's and Hermione's case delivered by two school owls. Recognising the Hogwarts crest on the parchments, both Harry and Hermione looked at Harry's letter, having assumed that the letters were identical.

Dear Mr Potter,

We are pleased to inform you that Hogwarts is now back in the hands of its original staff, and will be re-opening next week. The Hogwarts Express will be leaving Platform 9 3/4 at 10:00AM sharp for Hogwarts at the beginning of the next school week.

Due to the interruption of the school schedule, and the damage caused to the castle during its occupation, it may be necessary to delay the Ordinary Wizarding Level exams until a later date, unless it is possible to make up the lost time.

Minerva McGonagall

Harry cringed when he read the word 'damage', knowing that if the castle had been damaged enough to warrant mention, many lives would have been lost in the retaking of Hogwarts castle. Harry and Hermione both silently acknowledged the sacrifice made by the Aurors in their endeavour. However, after these moments of contemplation, both Harry and Hermione were happy that they were going back to Hogwarts. Harry, even with recent events taken into account, still felt like he was going home, back to the sanctuary where he belonged.

The rest of the final week of Harry and Hermione's "holidays" were punctuated by bouts of Hermione trying to remember various spells, charms and potions in time for their return to Hogwarts. Harry, on the other hand, preferred a much more relaxed approach and the two struck a balance somewhere in between - Hermione doing less work than she would have liked, and Harry doing significantly more. More significantly, both Harry and Hermione enjoyed each other's company, for although Hogwarts provided a sanctuary for both of them, it was, at times, rather dangerous.

The night before they were to return to Hogwarts, both Harry and Hermione went to sleep earlier than usual, so as to be refreshed the next day. Discussing what this year may still hold for either of them, it was agreed that whatever the next year would throw at them, they would tackle when it came.

"...But Harry," Hermione started.

"Hmmm?" Harry offered.

"You'll at least TRY to stay out of trouble, won't you?" Hermione replied, sounding a little worried.

"Aw...but where's the fun in that?" Harry asked jokingly. He didn't volunteer to do anything he had done, but it had occurred anyway. It could have been argued that he had volunteered to try to recover the Philosopher's Stone, but Harry had always regarded that as having had to be done. Harry suspected that Hermione knew this, despite her incessant worrying.

"Harry!" Hermione said under her breath, not too discreetly.

Harry let loose an exaggerated sigh. "Yes, Miss Prefect..."

"That's better," Hermione said softly.

At that, both students closed their eyes and went to sleep, their thoughts on the castle they would see once again.

Having left King's Cross at an earlier time, the Hogwarts Express pulled into Hogsmeade station earlier than usual, giving the students a couple of hours to themselves at Hogwarts before the feast, at which the Aurors would be honoured. As Harry, Hermione, and Ron (who they met on the train) jumped off at Hogsmeade, they noticed that everything seemed to be normal enough. However, the usually bubbly town was still recovering from the shock of finding themselves in the middle of a war.

Walking up toward the castle with Hermione and Ron, Harry saw a much smaller than usual house-elf running toward himself and his friends. The house-elf latched herself onto Harry's leg.

"Hawwy Potter!, Hawwy Potter," the house elf exclaimed. Harry grimaced while Hermione and Ron laughed at the gross mispronunciation of Harry's name. Knowing that they had a couple of hours before the feast, Harry picked up the house-elf from around his leg, and sat under the nearest tree with her. The house-elf looked at Hermione.

"Miss Granger?" The little elf asked in a strangely polite voice. Hermione smiled at her and nodded, and then the elf became very excited and looked at Ron. It was silent for a while, before saying, with a tone of finality.

"Wheezy!"

Harry couldn't help but laugh. This elf, obviously a baby, had been learning from Dobby, it seemed. Harry had been wondering how she had known their names. The elf had tried to hug Harry, but had only managed to grab hold of his side, and although it didn't hurt, it tickled. A lot.

"Stop it...please!" Harry gasped, while Ron and Hermione all but rolled over laughing. The house elf stopped, looking shocked.

"Ticky do something wrong?" she asked in a scared voice.

Harry cradled Ticky in his arms. "Oh no...nothing like that. It's just...er.." Harry didn't know how to explain the phenomenon of being ticklish to the young elf.

"You see...if you poke Harry around there, he starts laughing," Hermione offered, poking Harry for dramatic effect. This solicited a protest from Harry.

"So Ticky not in trouble?" Ticky asked in a small voice.

"No, not at all," Harry said with a smile. It was at this time when Dobby also arrived on the scene.

"Hello Dobby," Hermione said to Dobby.

"Miss Granger likes Ticky? Ticky is just a baby. Too young to work yet," Dobby explained.

"Yes, I like Ticky," Hermione replied, looking at Harry, who was rather valiantly letting Ticky pull his hair, wincing with pain once in a while.

"Looks like Harry's got a bit of a reputation with the house elves," Ron said, not envying Harry's position one bit. Harry was relieved when Ticky noticed Dobby's presence, and jumped out of Harry's grasp to stand next to him. Ticky seemed to be concentrating on something in Ron's direction. Harry found this odd...until Ron's hair turned electric blue. Harry quickly checked his own hair, it being long enough for him to see it. Seeing it was still black, Harry laughed, both in relief and at Ron's hair. When Hermione looked at him quizzically, Harry motioned in Ron's direction. Hermione promptly burst into laughter.

"Something I'm missing?" Ron asked.

"Uh, actually...yes," Hermione managed to say between laughs.

"And that would be..." Ron asked in a curious tone.

Hermione opened her bag and extracted a mirror from it. She ceremoniously gave it to Ron.

"I know what I look like, Hermione," Ron said, completely missing the point.

"Oh, really?" Hermione retorted. Ron looked into the mirror. After seeing the initial shock on Ron's face, Dobby and Ticky disapparated. Harry started laughing again.

"That...house-elf..." Ron said in a livid tone.

"Look. She's only having fun. Look, I'll change it back." Hermione said, pulling her wand out from her robes.

Having performed the appropriate charm, Hermione watched as Ron's hair started turning back into it's original colour. Suddenly, Ron's hair turned blue again.

"Uh oh," Hermione said under her breath.

"Uh oh what?" Ron growled murderously.

"It didn't work. You'll have to find Dobby or Ticky," Hermione said simply.

"You mean I have to go to the feast in this?" Ron asked, his face turning red.

"I'm afraid so," Harry replied in an amused voice, which put him under suspicion.

"You...you told Ticky to do it, didn't you?" Ron turned his attention to Harry.

Harry gulped. He didn't like the look Ron was giving him at all. Ron looked ready to kill him.

"No...I didn't," Harry replied, but his natural hesitation made him look even more guilty.

"Little prat," Ron mumbled to himself, but loud enough for Harry and Hermione to hear him.

"Not that little," Harry corrected quickly.

"Oh yeah?" Ron retorted in a loud growl, before jumping on Harry without warning, his frustration getting the better of him. Being substantially bigger and heavier than Harry, Ron managed to pin him to the ground easily, and his hand closed around Harry's throat, not violently, but enough to restrict Harry's breathing. It looked a little too easy, from where Hermione was standing.

"Going to take that back, Harry?" Ron asked in a taunting tone. Harry shook his head valiantly. Ron stayed put. Hermione had a mind to put an end to it as Harry had started turning slightly blue, but another, much larger person beat her to it. Hagrid.

"And what do yeh think yeh were doin'?" Hagrid asked in a loud voice, yanking Ron off Harry.

"Just playing, right?" Ron asked Harry, who nodded in support while grateful that he could breathe again. Hermione noticed Harry discreetly putting his wand back in his pocket.

"Just playing indeed! Harry here's blue fer cryin' out loud! Don' you have any brains at all?" Hagrid retorted.

Ron offered a hand, and pulled Harry to his feet when he took it. They both grinned at each other. Evidently, there were no hard feelings.

Hagrid's tone softened. "Don' know what got into yeh two, but we can all go and have some tea, righ'?" Hagrid offered. The three Gryffindors accepted, and they followed Hagrid into his hut.

"Now what brought that on?" Hagrid asked Ron, putting some tea on the table.

"Uh...Harry managed to convince a house-elf to change my hair colour," Ron replied, feeling rather self-conscious.

"Harry did no such thing," Hagrid replied in support of Harry. Ron looked at Harry, who had a look of complete innocence on his face. 'Yeah right,' Ron thought.

"How do you figure that?" Ron asked Hagrid.

"That elf...didn't happen to be called Ticky now would she?" Hagrid asked in reply.

"Yeah, she was," Hermione replied for Ron.

"Well, let me tell you that Ticky's a cheeky little one, she is. Changed the Headmaster's beard bright gold! Isn't in Snape's good books either. Got a thing for tampering and playing with people's hair, she does," Hagrid explained.

"Oh, and you wouldn't know how to change it back, would you?" Ron asked hopefully, before taking a sip out of his tea.

"Not a chance, Ron. Nothing'll change it back, besides another house-elf. You could shave it all off, and it would grow back blue. She'll change it back, of course."

"When?" Ron asked anxiously.

"Well, now that you ask, Ticky took a couple of days to change Dumbledore's beard back..." Hagrid started. There was a loud groan from Ron's direction.

As Harry fell asleep that night, a vision materialised in front of him. Ron and Hermione were in some room, Voldemort behind them, not doing anything, but waiting. Even though asleep, Harry noticed that Voldemort didn't have any of his death eaters around him, giving a sigh of relief when Hermione and Ron didn't have the dark mark on their arm. But what were they doing there?

Faintly, Harry could see the outlines of ropes which had bound Hermione and Ron, preventing escape, but Harry could not see any visible harm to them. Voldemort seemed to be pacing around impatiently, even glancing at a pocket watch around his neck.

This vision stayed with Harry for the rest of the night, Ron and Hermione helpless, yet Voldemort doing nothing. Then, just before he woke, Harry realised that Voldemort was waiting. For him. At that point, the vision faded to black.

Harry woke with a start. The clock told him that the time was just before six in the morning, and the first rays of sunlight were streaming into Gryffindor tower. The rest of the fifth year boys were still sleeping, and probably wouldn't wake until breakfast. Harry felt relieved that he didn't wake them up after that last dream...the last thing he wanted was to be fussed over right now. In fact, all he wanted was to be alone and try to sort things out by himself. Harry decided to go for a walk, and see if the cold water of the lake would clear his mind.

Pulling an old pair of shorts under his trousers, Harry grabbed a towel from his trunk, which he now left open as he walked of the dorm down the staircase. Once he reached the common room, he was surprised to find Hermione there, looking through a book on Arithmancy.

"You're up early, Harry. What are you up to?" Hermione asked, noticing Harry walking down the stairs.

"Nothing much," Harry replied. "Just going for a walk."

Hermione noticed a worried look in Harry's eyes when he replied, but said nothing as she nodded in response and watched as Harry walked out of the portrait hole. She understood from that look that Harry didn't want company.

As soon as Harry had exited the common room, Hermione raced up to the fifth year boys dorm, where the others were still sleeping, and went to the only empty bed in the dorm, Harry's. Finding his trunk left open, Hermione looked inside and found Harry's invisibility cloak.

With a thought that Harry was too trusting with his belongings, Hermione donned the Cloak, and locked Harry's trunk for him, before hurrying out of Gryffindor tower to follow Harry at a distance.

Following the only set of footsteps through Hogwarts wasn't too hard, and before long, Hermione had caught up with Harry who, obviously, didn't know she was following. Harry walked out of the castle slowly, headed toward the lake. It was obvious to Hermione that Harry had something important on his mind. Something that was worrying him.

Having reached the lake, Harry stripped down to his short trousers which he had worn before and prepared to wade into the lake, remembering when he had done the same during the second task the year before. The grass, still wet with dew, felt cold on Harry's feet, and it was only when Harry had reached the edge of the lake that Hermione remembered that Harry couldn't swim.

"Harry! What are you doing?" Hermione exclaimed in partial shock and surprise, and part worry. In the heat of the moment, Hermione forgot that she was still under the Invisibility cloak.

Harry spun around quickly, having thought he was alone. Finding nobody behind him, Harry looked around in confusion as to where Hermione's voice had come from. Realising that she was under the cloak, Hermione quickly emerged from beneath it, so that Harry could see her.

"Ah...there you are," Harry said in a tone that struck Hermione as rather lifeless.

"And what do you think you're doing?" Hermione asked in a very even voice.

"Well, I know you have the brains to figure why I'm standing at the edge of the lake, half naked. And no, I don't have a thing for the giant squid," Harry retorted.

A look of amusement flashed onto Hermione's face for a moment, and then it was gone, the stern look returning. "Very well, that would make sense, except for one small problem," Hermione said thoughtfully.

"And that is?" Harry asked in a curious voice.

"Somebody can't swim," Hermione replied.

"I'm not going to go in far enough to drown myself, Hermione. Just thought some cold water would do me some good. I may be a prat sometimes, Hermione, but even I'm not that stupid," Harry explained himself.

"Oh," Hermione said with a smile. "You know, you look...nice," Hermione added, just to tease Harry.

Harry blushed despite his sombre mood. Wading into the lake backward so he was still looking at Hermione, Harry dunked his head under the water. It felt rather refreshing, even though it didn't have the desired effect, and Harry started shivering from the cold. Then he changed the subject. "And what would you be doing here, instead of studying Arithmancy up in Gryffindor Tower? Especially under what seems to be my Invisibility cloak?"

"Er...I followed you?" Hermione offered, hoping Harry wouldn't get upset.

"But why? I was only going for a walk," Harry replied. "Nothing remotely dangerous in that, I don't think," Harry added.

"Well, no," Hermione admitted. "But I know something happened last night. You had that look on your face again."

"What look?" Harry asked quickly.

"The look that says 'Harry's hurting but isn't going to tell me what's wrong'," Hermione answered.

"Oh, that one," Harry said, silently cursing the fact that he was so readable to others. "But it still doesn't explain why you followed me down here."

"I was worried about you," Hermione said simply, bracing herself for Harry's 'You shouldn't worry about me so much', which would inevitably come. Despite this, she still worried about Harry. It was the least she could do for him.

Harry paused for a second in thought. "Thanks," Harry replied in a soft voice.

"Any time," Hermione replied kindly, surprised at Harry's response.

When Harry emerged from the lake shortly after, and dried himself with the towel, he said in a cheeky voice.

"I'm going behind that clump of trees over there to change into my dry clothes. I'd appreciate it if you didn't follow me. Okay with you?"

"Fine," Hermione looked at her watch. "You've got three minutes from now. If you're not out by then, I'm going to come after you."

"Don't worry so much. It's not good for you," Harry said, running toward the clump of trees so as to meet Hermione's deadline.

Harry emerged, triumphantly, two and a half minutes later. Hermione smiled at him, and Harry jogged down to her quickly.

"Okay, now that you're out of the lake. I think we need to talk," Hermione said firmly, but not unkindly. Harry noted that it was a statement, rather than a question. He agreed, and they then just sat down on the grass, basking in the morning sun.

"Fire away, then," Harry said simply.

"Huh?" Hermione replied, confused.

"Well...that's the way our 'talks' usually end up. You asking questions and me doing my best to evade the ones I don't want to answer," Harry replied, putting extra emphasis on the word 'talk'.

Hermione chuckled. "Very well then. There's two things, actually. Firstly, and most obviously, what happened last night. Secondly, why you just Ron let choke you half to death yesterday. And we both know that you didn't fight back."

Harry sighed. "Do I really have to answer either of those?"

"I'd appreciate it if you did," Hermione answered. "But I won't force you if you really don't want to."

"Firstly, Ron's bigger than me. It wouldn't have been hard for him to do what he did yesterday. He's probably had practice with Fred and George. So, I didn't really just lie there and get beaten up voluntarily." Harry replied. However, Harry knew that Hermione would suspect he wasn't really telling the truth.

"I'd like you to repeat that, while looking into my eyes, Harry. I don't believe that at all, and you have to prove somehow that you're not lying. And if you're worried, I'll keep whatever you say to myself. I won't tell a soul." Hermione replied.

Harry looked into Hermione's eyes and faltered. He couldn't do it. Lying was hard enough for him, but this was impossible. Harry looked away again toward the lake.

"Thought so," Hermione replied.

Harry decided on the truth. "Well...you know Ron. He kinda has a slight inferiority complex, with the rest of his family being who they are and all."

Hermione thought 'Harry saying Ron's got an inferiority complex. Fair enough, but it's a bit rich coming from him.' but decided not to air her thoughts to Harry. If she did, Harry would probably just stop talking.

"He's also a very competitive guy. He hates being left out, and he definitely hates losing. He's the kind of guy who's after a bit of glory, although not in a Lockhart kind of way." Harry said softly.

"It's called Ambition, Harry," Hermione said, prompting Harry to carry on.

"Yes, well you saw what happened last year after my name came out of the Goblet. He wouldn't even speak to me, he was that angry because he thought I had sneaked my name into the cup and not his as well."

"So, what about yesterday, then?" Hermione prompted further. She found the fact that Harry trusted her enough to even say any of this oddly comforting.

"Very well...yesterday. To me, it was just a friendly fight. There was nothing in it...as long as I lost. Fights are more of a matter of honour with Ron. Look at him next time he has a go at Malfoy. I wasn't going to risk everything over a little fight like that. How did you figure that I lost deliberately anyway?

"It wasn't hard, Harry. Firstly, it looked way too easy, even if Ron didn't notice. Secondly, you had your wand out and didn't use it." Hermione replied.

"Oh, right. I didn't think anyone noticed the wand, though. Just in case, you know?"

"I understand that. And I don't think anyone else saw it, so you don't have to worry," Hermione responded.

"Hello, young Gryffindors. I'm not interrupting anything important am I?" Professor Dumbledore said from behind them.

Harry spun around and replied "Not at all, Professor Dumbledore," welcome for the distraction from Hermione's interrogation.

Professor Dumbledore lay his hand on Harry's head, causing a warm sensation to flow through his body. Professor Dumbledore stepped back and smiled at both of them.

"Our mutual friend looks rather troubled, actually," Professor Dumbledore said thoughtfully, turning to Hermione. This was a side to his headmaster that Harry had never seen before. He felt honoured to be regarded by Professor Dumbledore as a friend.

"Yes, he does, but as to why, I don't know..." Hermione replied.

"And he is wondering whether he could be included in this conversation about his own present state of mind," Harry added, bringing a smile both to Hermione and Professor Dumbledore.

"Of course you are, Harry," Professor Dumbledore replied, switching to the second person from the third. He watched as Hermione put her hand behind Harry in a protective manner, as though to pull him closer.

"I'd tell you that I'm fine, but from the look on your faces, you're not going to believe me," Harry said, sighing.

"No, I wouldn't," Professor Dumbledore admitted. "Say, have you, either of you ever wondered why you got chosen as Prefects this year?"

"Yes, many times," Harry admitted. "I definitely can't have been the most logical choice."

"But you were one of the choices made by the staff. The staff nominate prefects from all but their own houses. Can you not see why?" Professor Dumbledore asked.

"I take it that breaking the school rules doesn't count," Harry replied with an amused voice.

"Actually, it does, and I'll admit that your rather unfortunate habit of doing such came under scrutiny. But that wasn't the only criteria. Everyone is open for nomination. The staff are asked to list the strengths and weaknesses in each candidate's character, and from these, nominate two candidates. The three with the most votes get Prefect," Professor Dumbledore said, reviewing the selection process.

"We all have strengths in our character, Harry, even if we won't acknowledge them," Professor Dumbledore added, seeing Harry look up at him. Harry gave his headmaster a look that suggested he didn't believe him at all.

"It is a curious thing, how our characters evolve. Sometimes as a result of our upbringing, in other times, in spite of it. You have many strengths to your character, Harry, even if you won't see them. Selflessness, honesty, courage, and most obviously, modesty. It was on these strengths that you were nominated. Yes, there are weaknesses as well, but you do have the respect of most of your peers...and the staff." Professor Dumbledore completed.

"I'm probably the most overrated wizard of all time," Harry said in a soft voice. "There are many who are greater, or more capable than myself. They say that I defeat Voldemort, when I merely survive, and barely, at that. I struggle to be adequate in some of my subjects, yet people expect great things."

"There is much more to being a great wizard than just cleverness, although that does play a role. Yes, there are many who are greater than you in that respect. But there are few, very few who would conduct themselves in the manner that you do, given the circumstances in which you live. There are those who would be caught up in fame, others in glory. There are those who would run at the first sign of trouble. You have done neither, and it is in this, that you may well be considered to be one of the finest wizards of our time in the future, perhaps even now." Professor Dumbledore replied.

"Do you really believe that?" Harry asked his headmaster.

"What you will grow into, nobody knows, but I do believe that you will grow into a great wizard, and I am far from the only one," Professor Dumbledore said wisely. Harry watched as his Headmaster summoned a box of what seemed to be the cards that came with Chocolate Frogs.

"Are those chocolate frog cards?" Harry asked curiously.

Professor Dumbledore chuckled. "Yes, I'm rather fond of many things sweet, so I've got quite an extensive collection of these...ah, here it is," Professor Dumbledore said, handing a card to Harry. Harry looked in absolute disbelief when he saw his own image there, playing Quidditch for Gryffindor. Harry flicked the card around to what it said at the back.

'Harry Potter, Boy Wizard 1980-

Famous for his defeat of the dark wizard Voldemort while still a child, Harry is regarded by many as 'The Boy who Lived'. Known by his friends to be quiet, Harry has set about his life in an unassuming manner. Regardless of this, his achievements include being Triwizard Champion, and being the youngest Seeker to play for a Hogwarts House in hundreds of years.

Interests include Quidditch and flying.'

"You're quite rare, at the moment, actually," Professor Dumbledore said with a chuckle.

"W..when did this get written?" Harry managed to reply in his shock.

"Your friends took the liberty of submitting this on your behalf, due to you being in hospital before the start of term, although some comments were edited as being rather...over the top shall we say?" Professor Dumbledore replied. Hermione had a rather guilty look on her face.

"You wrote this?" Harry asked Hermione.

"Only because you wouldn't have," Hermione retorted. "Besides, you were in hospital. And I didn't write it alone, either."

Harry gave the card back to Professor Dumbledore, noticing the image of himself was pulling out of a dive, catching the Snitch in a game against what seemed to be Slytherin.

"What am I ever going to do with you?" Harry asked Hermione in an exasperated manner.

"I've often thought the same about how to keep you out of trouble," Professor Dumbledore said thoughtfully, to Harry.

"Well..." Hermione started jokingly, "you could lock Harry in a security vault at Gringotts stuffed with cotton wool..." Harry gave Hermione a scandalised look.

Professor Dumbledore chuckled, at both the suggestion, and the look it put on Harry's face. "I'll visit, I promise!" Hermione continued in a teasing tone. Harry couldn't really think of anything he could consider appropriate to say to Hermione at that time, so he rolled his eyes at her. Hermione laughed.

Harry groaned. "I can not believe that you put me on a chocolate frog card," Harry said, enunciating every syllable.

"Hey, at least I picked a nice picture..." Hermione retorted. She had thought of putting the 'Harry under the tree' picture on it, as it reflected his person nicely, but she had thought that most people, including Harry, wouldn't have wanted that picture on there.

"Probably your only picture," Harry replied in a joking manner. "I'm not the most photogenic of people."

Hermione, at this, drew her wand and summoned the 'Harry under the tree' picture. She had meant to show Harry the picture anyhow, and the card had reminded her of it. She also thought, after she had summoned the picture, that Harry probably wouldn't have wanted too many people to have seen the picture.

Catching the picture deftly, she gave it to Harry, saying, "I thought about putting this one on, but I thought..."

"It was too depressing?" Harry offered.

"It's probably one of the best pictures I have of you, though. You can just tell what you're thinking, even though you're not saying anything. It pretty much sums up your character," Hermione said.

"I'm not depressed and alone all the time!" Harry exclaimed at that last comment.

"Of course not, Harry. Never suggested you were. It's one of the things I like about you though. You don't take your problems out on anyone else. You just retreat into your own little world and...well I don't know what you do in there," Hermione replied.

"Knowing Harry, probably giving himself the verbal lashing of his life, actually," Professor Dumbledore replied. The way that Harry consciously avoided her questioning glance told Hermione that her headmaster was probably correct.

"Well, have a nice day," Professor Dumbledore said casually, before walking down toward Hagrid's hut. Harry could feel Hermione's protective gaze over him even before he turned to face her.

"What's wrong?" Harry asked Hermione, breaking the silence.

"Actually Harry, I think I should be asking that question," Hermione replied, neatly redirecting the question back at Harry.

"I'm perfectly fine..." Harry started to protest.

"No you're not. You may not want to tell me what's bothering you, that's your decision. But you are very much not 'fine' at the moment. Now, having known you for the last four and a bit years..." Hermione started

"Hermione, I am perfectly fine," Harry repeated.

Hermione's gaze softened. "Harry, you're like a little brother to me...seriously. I know how stupid this sounds, but...whatever. Just don't try to lie to me. It's not going to work, and I'll pick it," Hermione said simply.

"You always do, Hermione," Harry replied. Then, having registered what Hermione had just said, Harry froze with a mixture of shock and confusion. "Little...brother?" Harry managed to get out. He had intended to say something slightly more profound than that, but that was all he could manage at the moment.

Hermione smiled gently at Harry, and enveloped him in the tightest hug she could physically manage. The sheer force of the transfer of emotion swallowed Harry's doubts from earlier wholesale, and left Harry feeling much better. On his part, Harry just nestled his chin on Hermione's shoulder and kept silent, truly content with his lot at the moment. With Sirius, an aunt who didn't hate him any more, and Hermione, Harry knew what it was like to be part of a family. To be loved and respected for who he truly was, rather than the reputation that continually preceded him. Hermione could have sworn that she could feel an aura of happiness being projected from Harry's direction.

Once Hermione untangled herself from him, Harry rose to his feet happily, and pulled Hermione onto hers. Both students felt ready to face breakfast, classes and the day in general which, suddenly, didn't seem so bad after all.

            ***

             The next morning, Harry woke up early to find Ron not in his bed, which evidently hadn't been disturbed in the night before. Curious where Ron could have got to the whole night, Harry walked down to the common room, absorbed in his thoughts.

"Oi Harry! We were just going up to get you - Angelina reckons we should start training for Quidditch again!" Fred shouted across the common room, startling Harry.

"Er what? Oh, I mean, right," Harry managed to reply, before performing an about face to get his Firebolt from underneath his bed. After collecting the broom in question, Harry made to hurry off to the Quidditch pitch, his thoughts still on his missing friend. As he hurried through the Common Room, Harry couldn't help noticing that Hermione, a habitually early riser, wasn't anywhere to be seen either.

As Harry was going to exit the portrait hole, Parvarti asked Harry, "Hey Harry, you seen Hermione anywhere around?"

"No, I was about to ask you the same question. Ron didn't come up to bed last night either," Harry replied, walking out the portrait hole. As the Fat Lady swung shut behind him, Harry heard Parvarti say "Ooooh, maybe they're off snogging somewhere!"

The Gryffindor team trained without a keeper or a captain, Wood having graduated since they last played, but it was decided that the remainder of the team would train first, before deciding what to do with that particular anomaly. However, it was soon noticed by the Gryffindor team that Harry, their seeker, wasn't really on his usual game, obviously distracted by something.

Even if Harry wasn't an unusually good seeker, it still would have been noticed that something was wrong. Quite obviously, Harry's heart and mind weren't on the game. Floating around on his broom, Harry really couldn't shake the image of Ron's undisturbed bed from his mind, and didn't notice the Snitch even when it flew right past the end of his broom. Eventually, Harry was pulled out of his thoughts by Fred shouting "Oi Harry! I think we're done for today!"

Harry floated down to the pitch slowly, Quidditch not being able to get his mind off things. Harry knew that he was being paranoid, but Ron and Hermione hadn't gone missing so early in the morning before, and Harry was concerned. Once Harry touched down on the pitch, George asked Harry, "Hey Harry, what's wrong? Something's obviously up - you didn't even catch the Snitch once today!"

"It's nothing, sorry, I've got other things on my mind today," Harry answered, biting his lower lip. Harry listened to what Angelina had to say about thinking about who should be new captain, and how to select a new Keeper without further comment, and after she finished, trudged off to the changing room alone.

Once Harry was out of earshot, Angelina asked Fred and George "What's up with Harry today?"

"Nothing much, I don't think," Fred replied, having heard Harry before.

"Oh, really?" Angelina replied in a slightly concerned voice, motioning toward a visibly troubled Harry making his way to the changing room.

"That's what he told us when we asked," George answered.

"And what did you expect him to do? Look, Harry isn't just going to tell you two what's wrong - we all know how he just holds everything back. But just looking at him, you know something's up...I don't know what it is, obviously, but I'll try to find out. I'll go up and talk to him, OK?" Katie Bell replied.

"Alright, I'll come with you," Angelina offered.

"Nah, I think I'll go alone...you know, give Harry some room. I'll tell you guys how I go," Katie replied, before jogging after Harry.

When Katie entered the changing room, there was complete silence within. Looking around, she saw Harry in the corner, sitting with his head in his hands. Something was obviously wrong.

"Harry, what's wrong?" Katie asked gently.

"Nothing," came Harry's monotonous answer, Harry not moving from his position.

"Oh come off it! We both know there's something wrong," Katie replied, walking up to Harry. Katie put her hand under Harry's chin. Harry flinched at the contact, but didn't pull away. "Come on...chin up. It's OK, you can tell me."

"It's nothing, really. I'm just being paranoid," Harry replied.

'Finally! A break!' Katie said in her mind, before asking Harry, "What about?"

"Nothing," Harry answered, trying but failing to sound confident.

Katie rolled her eyes upward. Harry could be so stubborn when it came to telling people what was wrong. She wished Hermione was here...she knew Harry better than anyone, maybe besides Ron.

"Yeah, right," Katie said, trying to get Harry to say something else.

"OK, OK! Something is bothering me. But I'm fine, thanks for asking." Harry replied, not really answering Katie's question.

"Come on, Harry! You can tell me - I won't laugh, promise! And if it makes you feel any better, I won't tell Fred and George either, OK?" Katie persisted, knowing she was close to getting a straight answer.

"Fine. If it's anything to you, I'm worried that something might have happened to Ron and Hermione last night. Hermione wasn't in Gryffindor tower this morning, and Ron never went to bed last night. I know they're probably snogging in the Astronomy tower or something, but...I don't know..." Harry's voice trailed off.

Katie didn't know what to say, but she put her hand on Harry's shoulder in a show of support. "We'll find them, OK? I've got to get the rest of the team now. I've told them to wait outside 'cause I know you would never say anything with everyone around."

"Cheers," Harry replied, sounding grateful but still upset.

Katie went back outside and motioned for Angelina to come over. When Fred and George followed, Katie sent them on to the changing room, saying that she wanted to speak with Angelina alone.

"OK. Why the privacy?" Angelina asked.

"I gave my word to Harry that I wouldn't tell Fred and George, I'm not going to break it. He's quite upset in there, took ages before I could get him to say anything," Katie started.

"Tell me about it! What'd he tell you though?" Angelina asked.

"He's worried about Ron and Hermione. Reckons they've gone missing. I know there's a million places they could be, but Harry's hunches don't usually go too far astray, as far as I've heard," Katie replied.

Angelina thought for a moment. "Think he might be on to something. Hermione's usually up really early, reading something in the Common Room. I'm pretty sure she wasn't there today. Wasn't in the bathroom, and I'll bet that Harry checked in the dorm and found she wasn't there."

Katie added "He said something about Ron never going to bed last night. So they're missing?"

"Hope not. Keep your eyes open for them. If you find them, tell Harry, OK?" Angelina replied, before walking up to the changing room herself.

When the Gryffindor team walked into the Great Hall together for breakfast, three of their number were quite upset to find empty chairs where Ron and Hermione usually sat with Harry. Harry, noticing this, sat down by himself at the table, deliberately sitting as far from the remaining Gryffindors as possible, worried about his two best friends. Harry noticed Angelina walking toward Professor McGonagall, presumably to ask about Ron and Hermione's whereabouts, but also noticed Fred and George talking normally, occasionally stealing a glance at Harry with a confused expression. By this, Harry knew that Katie had kept her word. Moments later, Katie sat down next to Harry, breaking his self-imposed solitude.

"OK over there, Harry?" Katie asked softly.

"Yeah, should be," Harry replied, a very forced smile on his face unsuccessfully attempting to hide his true state of mind.

Katie rolled her eyes toward the ceiling. Harry really could be so stubborn sometimes. "Well...if you say so. Look, I've told Angelina, but not Fred and George. She's gone to McGonagall to get some answers, and we'll see when she gets back." As Katie finished speaking, Angelina started walking back to the Gryffindor table, a dark look on her face.

When Angelina reached where Katie and Harry were sitting, she said "Sorry Harry, but McGonagall doesn't know either. Dumbledore wants to see you quickly after breakfast, though."

"It's OK, thanks for asking McGonagall," Harry said, spending more time moving the food around his plate than actually eating it. Harry didn't eat much that breakfast, and when he left the table, there was a nearly full plate directly in front of the seat he had just vacated.

Harry found Dumbledore waiting outside the Great Hall, and he couldn't help but feel slightly comforted by the Headmaster's presence. Dumbledore benevolently watched on as Harry composed himself, and looked up at him.

The first thing Harry noticed was that Dumbledore had a look of concern on his face.

"Harry, I must admit, as much as I'd like to tell you that I know where Mr Weasley or Miss Granger is, the truth is, I don't. There's no getting around that fact. However, I've asked some of the Aurors tasked to guarding Hogwarts to conduct a search of the castle for them." Dumbledore admitted. Dumbledore couldn't help noticing the look of desolation and loss that he saw on Harry's face. In his many years, Dumbledore had seen many people upset in his presence, and the look he saw on Harry's face was still disturbing. Dumbledore saw a look of utter hopelessness in Harry's eyes, and he knew that if Ron and Hermione didn't turn up, the young man he had seen endure so much might never be the same again, that one of the beacons of light that shone so brightly in these dark days might well have been extinguished, perhaps forever. Dumbledore hated to acknowledge the fact that the one thing he knew would bring Harry back may well be impossible.

"Harry, I want you to come up with me to my office. Is that alright with you?" Dumbledore asked kindly.

"Uh..yeah," Harry replied in a soft voice, and followed Dumbledore as he led the way toward, and into his office in silence.

As Harry sat down in front of Dumbledore's table, Dumbledore opened one of his drawers and extracted two items from it. The first was a chocolate frog, which he slid across the table toward Harry. The second was a piece of parchment that was familiar to both Harry and Dumbledore. The Marauder's map. From the way that Harry put his chocolate frog aside without giving it a second look, Dumbledore knew that Harry was in a bad way, perhaps even worse than he had imagined. He had seen no boy Harry's age refuse the offer of a chocolate frog in all his days.

"I must warn you, Harry, that this map doesn't show the whole of Hogwarts, places that Moony, Padfoot and Prongs didn't find. And it may well be that Ron and Hermione are in such a place. But it is worth a look - the map is fairly comprehensive," Dumbledore said, deliberately leaving Wormtail out, and activating the Marauder's map. Dumbledore hated the fact that he knew that he was instilling hope in Harry's mind that had a high probability of having been proved false. Neither Harry or Dumbledore were surprised that their names didn't show up on the map.

As Harry left Dumbledore's office, Dumbledore noticed that the chocolate frog was still on his table, next to the map. Seeing this, Dumbledore called Harry back. As Harry sat back down, Dumbledore asked,

"Harry, is there anything, anything at all that you want to say?"

Harry shook his head slowly, looking down at the floor. Dumbledore couldn't remember the last time he saw a student this upset, not even when they had been expelled. Reaching over to Harry, Dumbledore took his hand and pressed the chocolate frog into it.

"Eat it, it'll make you feel better."

Harry looked up at Dumbledore emotionally, before quietly saying his first words since he reached Dumbledore's office.

"I've lost my two best friends, maybe permanently. They've been family in all ways except blood. How am I meant to feel better?" This almost rattled Dumbledore's composure.

"Harry, please. I know this is hard for you. Is there anything that I could do for you at the moment?" Dumbledore offered.

Harry shook his head, and after muttering a quiet thanks to Dumbledore, turned and left the office, head bowed. Dumbledore couldn't help noticing that Harry had left the chocolate frog behind, yet again. He'd have to notify the staff, notably Snape, of Harry's condition. Dumbledore knew that Harry was on the edge of a precipice, and even the smallest of shocks could send him over the edge. Dumbledore mused that with Ron and Hermione, Harry's best friends, lay his spirit.

                ***

Hogwarts was put under more security than ever before upon the disappearance of Ron and Hermione. Students were only allowed out of class and their common rooms when alongside one of the staff, or an Auror. This being the case, the students tended to travel in largish groups with each other, taking solace in the numbers that they travelled in. Again, like in second year, the general mood in the corridors of the hallowed castle was largely fearful of the unknown. The remainder of the fifth year Gryffindors noticed the change in Harry almost immediately, and they moved to help him in this troubled time, which although hard for them, they knew would be harder for Harry, having lost two of his closest friends.

Although largely silent, Harry was grateful for the support of his fellow housemates, who he knew would be there if he needed them, but also gave him some personal space to sort things out. Harry absently noticed that the staff also seemed to leave him alone much more. That was fine with Harry, everyone who associated with him ended up either missing, or dead.

It was in another of these solitary times that it occurred to Harry where Ron and Hermione were, and how they had been spirited away out of the school grounds. Harry realised that it was possible, because, basically, they hadn't left the school grounds.

"...Places that Moony, Padfoot and Prongs didn't find," Dumbledore had said earlier in his office. Harry almost smiled as he thought of the one possible place that this could be. His father and his friends had searched the whole of the castle, and mapped it. 'Well, the whole of the castle as they saw it...' Harry thought, as he stood up, and strode quickly to the portrait hole, headed toward the Chamber of Secrets. Dean, seeing Harry stand and head toward the portrait hole, made to follow, but by the time he had opened the portrait, Harry was out of sight. Dean saw the back of the Auror. who was guarding the portrait hole as he gave chase to Harry rounding a corner, and he turned back to the Common Room. As he made his way back to a very dispirited game of chess with Seamus, Dean hoped that he would see Harry again. Preferably soon, and alive.

Running along one of the corridors towards Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, Harry crashed headlong into his leas-favourite professor, Snape.

"And what would Harry Potter be doing running through the corridors, without his minder?" Snape asked in a snide tone.

"Going to find the other two of this Professor's least favourite students," Harry replied in an equally scathing tone.

"No, I think I shall be escorting you back to Gryffindor tower. We can't have Gryffindor losing all their prefects, now can we?" Snape drawled, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Let me say this, then. As a prefect of this school, I have an obligation to assist other students in trouble. There are two students in trouble whom I aim to assist. They also happen to be my friends, but they may as well be Malfoy, I wouldn't leave anyone to die," Harry retorted.

"You wouldn't, would you? Well, then, I think we should go to see the headmaster, Potter. You seem to have thwarted all attempts to safeguard your miserable life. He should be thrilled to see you." Snape said, sounding like he was thoroughly enjoying himself.

Harry, summoning the last of his reserve of tolerance, stated plainly. "I am going to at least attempt to save two innocent lives. To wait any longer than I have to may have dire consequences. When you were younger, your life was saved. Don't try to stop me doing the same for others." At this, Harry marched around Professor Snape and ran down the corridor, looking, to Snape, much like the boy who had saved his life all those years ago. Snape made to give chase, but knew that his old legs wouldn't carry him as quickly as Harry's young ones. Instead, he turned to hurry to the Slytherin common room, where he could contact the Headmaster.

***

As Snape hurried into the Slytherin common room, looking rather downcast at the prospect of losing another student (even if it was Harry), he was confronted by none other than Draco Malfoy.

"What's wrong, Professor?" Malfoy asked in a sickening tone.

"I fear, young Malfoy, that we may have lost another student," Professor Snape replied in a defeated tone.

"And who would that be?" Malfoy asked, his interest piqued.

"Potter," Snape replied in a low tone. He felt sick after noticing a small smile creeping up on his student's face.

"He had it coming...always trying to be everybody's little angel, standing up for all the Mudbloods and Muggles out there. It was only a matter of time." Malfoy drawled.

"It is a bad thing, Malfoy, to wish death on anyone, even your fiercest rival. I know not of Potter's health, but I must say that his prospects aren't good. He has gone to seek Granger and Weasley, and I assume he knows where they are. He probably also knows that he will most likely have to fight none other than Voldemort himself to get to them. He may be a fool, but such friendship and bravery is something we should aspire to. We must look into ourselves and ask whether we would do the same for those we care about." Snape said in a commanding tone.

"It is but a war, Professor, and there will be deaths, many deaths. It is all we can do to prevent ourselves from becoming mere memories, casualty figures. It is better to stay alive than to die, however bravely." Malfoy retorted.

"The headmaster said something at the end of last year that you should take to heart, Malfoy. There comes a time, maybe even now, where you must make a choice between what is easy, and what is right. Which path do you seek? It is time for all of us to stand up and be counted. You must choose soon, Malfoy, the path of the valiant, or the path of the coward who hides in the shadows. Both of them are open to you. Think about it, Malfoy, and act accordingly." Professor Snape said in a tone that told Malfoy not to argue, and strode into his office.

***

Once Harry had reached Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, he saw, in front of it, the last person he wanted to see. Professor McGonagall.

"Go back to the common room, Potter. I don't know how you managed to get away from that Auror. who is meant to be making sure you don't do anything stupid, but...just go." Professor McGonagall said in a strict tone.

"I know where Ron and Hermione are, and I'm going to get them," Harry retorted fiercely.

"Don't be stupid. The castle has been searched for them, they're not here. I understand your concern, but they just aren't in the castle." Professor McGonagall said in an understanding tone.

"They're in there," Harry replied, pointing to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom.

"Ludicrous, Potter, that's a girl's bathroom. Now why would you think they'd be in there?" Professor McGonagall said sternly, worrying that Harry had gone slightly insane with concern about his friends.

"They're not in the bathroom, technically," Harry replied.

"Then you have no reason to go in there, go back to the Common Room, Potter. In fact, I know they're not there for I just came out." Professor McGonagall replied curtly, blocking Harry's path.

"You want to know why no Auror. hasn't found them? Even though they're in the castle? It's because Ron and Hermione are in the one place they couldn't look. The Chamber of Secrets," Harry said desperately.

Professor McGonagall blanched, and drew her wand. "Go, Potter, before I make you. You may be correct, but you don't know what is down there in the chamber, and I can't let you take that risk with your life. You are marked as something special, and I won't let you endanger your own life."

"You think I am marked as something special? Why, because I have this scar on my head? Well, I'll tell you what this scar means to me. It means that Voldemort, the person who gave it to me isn't afraid to use the Killing Curse, even on those unable to defend themselves. And I will NOT leave my two friends down there at his mercy!" Harry replied furiously. Without warning, Harry rushed under Professor McGonagall's arm, into the bathroom, slamming the door behind him. Once Professor McGonagall opened the door, she saw Harry opening the entrance to the Chamber. Pointing her wand at him, Professor McGonagall made to stop him, but hesitated before deciding it was for the best. In that moment of hesitation that Professor McGonagall had before hexing one of her own students, Harry had opened the Chamber, and jumped out of sight. Professor McGonagall looked on helplessly as the entrance to the chamber closed, knowing that she would be unable to follow, and wondered if that was the last time she would see Harry alive. ***

Harry landed on the floor of the chamber awkwardly, but ignoring the protests from his ankle, he drew his wand and lit it. The chamber was exactly as he had left it in second year, and Harry knew that he needed to walk into the second chamber to find Ron and Hermione. From the burning pain in his scar, Harry knew who else would be in the chamber.

As the door to the second chamber slid open, a high, taunting voice emanated from within.

"Harry Potter. Well, it's nice to meet again."

Harry looked to the front of the chamber, where Ron and Hermione were lying on a table, illuminated only by the torches on the wall of the chamber. Harry watched as Hermione groaned, struggling against the bonds tying her to the table, obviously conscious. Ron was unstirring.

"Absolutely charming," Harry retorted in the most sarcastic voice he could muster.

"Well, well. There's no need to be so rude now, Harry Potter. Why, I haven't seen you for a good while. And you did choose to visit," Voldemort said in a drawling voice, followed by laughter that could only be described as maniacal.

Harry said nothing, and pointed his wand at Voldemort. "Why, Potter, the pleasantries must be observed. Oh well, to business then. You join me, and they walk free. I need not explain the alternative," Voldemort said, undaunted at the wand pointed at him. Voldemort himself drew a wand from his robes.

"Put the wand down, Potter. If we should duel this time, the unexpected events of last time will not be repeated. I see no portkeys, and I am using the wand of Weasley, here. How ironic, to be killed by the wand of a friend. And then all the evidence will point to Weasley. I need only to kill the Mudblood here, and the ministry will take care of the rest. Do you accept my terms, Potter?" Voldemort said in a drawl.

Harry looked at Hermione, obviously conscious, clearly shaking her head in disagreement. "Never will I accept your terms, Riddle. Never." Harry said softly, but forcefully. Hermione had never seen Harry like this, all cold and purposeful, seemingly radiating power he never used normally. He was as far removed from the shy figure Hermione recognised as her friend as humanly possible.

"You would call me by my worthless father's name? Crucio!"

Harry gritted his teeth, and did not make a sound. Instead, he stood there, defiantly in front of his nemesis, refusing to buckle. Eventually, pain overcame Harry, and he slowly sank to his knees. Voldemort lifted the curse.

"You see, Potter, I am strong, while you are weak. I give you one last chance. If you refuse, I will give you a gift that you will hold forever, a chance to see your parents again. Charming, I get to reunite the fool of a mother, who needn't have died at all, with her foolish son, who made the same mistake."

Harry pointed his wand at Voldemort and shouted "Expelliarmus!" in reply. Voldemort neatly deflected the curse, and aimed the Killing Curse at Harry, who rolled away only just in time. The poor light in the Chamber played with both Harry's and Voldemort's vision, and Harry only missed being killed by a matter of inches. Harry realised that unless he could do something different, he would lose. He absently took note of the fact that he seemed to be moving around, while Voldemort was not. Eventually, he would tire, and then Voldemort would win. It was as he dived to evade yet another curse, that Harry realised what he had to do.

While dodging any curses Voldemort threw at him, Harry slowly used the Reductor curse to blast the torches off the walls of the chamber, eventually enveloping the room in darkness. Voldemort responded by casting a Lumos charm, which lighted the end of his wand, but made it harder for him to accurately aim at Harry, who consciously moved into the darker corners of the chamber. Voldemort's Lumos charm made it easy for Harry to aim at him, but to no avail, as Voldemort deflected each curse easily.

"Now is not time for 'Hide and Seek', Potter," Voldemort said. "Or maybe your friends may like a taste of Cruciatus? I do enjoy the spoils of war."

Harry on his part, used Voldemort's temporary distraction to change into his animagus form, out of Voldemort's sight. His animagus form was Harry's one advantage, and he determined to make good use of it.

Flying up toward the roof of the chamber, much like Fawkes in his second year, Harry could see much better than Voldemort, owls being able to see much more clearly in the dark. Harry circled around with silent wings, waiting for his chance to strike.

"Oh well, Potter. You seem to wish harm onto your friends. Who am I to disappoint?" From his vantage point, Harry could see the fear on Hermione's face. Voldemort swung around to face Hermione on the table, and said,

"Well, it seems that Potter no longer cares about you. Perhaps he still hides in the chamber, or maybe he has departed. It is no matter, I still have you," Voldemort said, reminding Hermione of the character of Hannibal Lecter from a Muggle book. It was as Voldemort extended his wand to curse Hermione that Harry seized his chance.

Swooping down on Voldemort much like an owl would a rat chosen as it's prey, Harry neatly plucked the wand out of Voldemort's hands before Voldemort could react. Landing on the furthest and darkest corner of the chamber, Harry changed back into his human form as Voldemort let loose a howl of frustration.

"Game over, Riddle," Harry said, subconsciously recalling Dudley's computer saying similar things every time Dudley died or lost to it. He held his wand pointed at Voldemort's chest.

"Bravo, Potter. Going to kill me now?" Voldemort asked.

"Never, Riddle. I would not stoop to your level," Harry retorted, before shouting "Stupefy!" However, before the curse reached Voldemort across the room, he had grabbed his pocket watch around his neck, and disappeared. Obviously, Voldemort kept a portkey on him, just in case.

"No portkey..." Harry said, cursing under his breath, before hurrying to help Hermione and Ron out of their bonds.

"Are you two OK?" Harry asked.

"Fine," Hermione muttered, shaken but evidently unharmed. Hermione watched as the anger and the look of power faded from Harry's visage. It all metamorphasised into a shy smile.

"Ron?" Harry asked, concerned that Ron wasn't moving. Harry shook Ron gently, trying to elicit some sort of response. Hermione watched on, fearing that Ron had been seriously hurt in their capture. He had gone down pretty hard, and all because she, Hermione Granger, supposedly smartest witch in Hogwarts, forgot her wand.

Ron groaned, and mumbled something. Then, unmistakably, Ron muttered "My head hurts."

"Ron, are you OK?" Harry asked again.

"Yeah, just give me a minute," Ron said, as he struggled into a sitting position.

After Ron had composed himself, Harry made to lead both Ron and Hermione out of the Chamber, back into Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. However, as Harry walked out out of the inner Chamber, he lost his footing on a loose rock, and tumbled to the ground.

"Harry!" Hermione exclaimed, rushing to his aid.

"I'm fine," Harry replied. Feeling a stabbing pain in his leg, Harry looked down and found that he had landed on a curiously sharp rock. It was also white, unlike the rest of the rocks in the chamber. "Just my luck that I had to land on this," Harry added, putting the rock in his pocket.

The next thing Harry realised was that there was a ladder to get out of the Chamber. Obviously, he hadn't used it last time, Fawkes having carried him, Ron, Ginny and Professor Lockhart out of the chamber. Harry mused that you couldn't have a phoenix all the time, though.

Once the trio were out of the Chamber, they were greeted by a very sour looking Professor Snape, who wore a look of grudging respect as he regarded Harry.

"I'm to take you lot to the Headmaster," Professor Snape said, breaking the silence.

Harry just nodded, and followed the Potions master. Ron and Hermione followed, in silence. Halfway to Dumbledore's office, Harry's pace slowed considerably, and he suddenly felt very tired.

"So tired..." Harry managed to mutter audibly, before the world faded to black.

Hermione and Ron watched in horror as their friend seemingly collapsed in front of their eyes. When Professor Snape turned around to see what had caused the commotion, and saw Harry on the floor, he quickly cast a magical stretcher, and levitated Harry to Madam Pomfrey. Ron and Hermione followed worriedly, Hermione absently remembering that she hadn't even thanked Harry for saving her life.

"What has he done now?" Madam Pomfrey asked as she saw Harry, unconscious yet again, being brought to the Hospital Wing.

"Not sure...he just collapsed," Hermione managed to get out, in panic.

"Don't worry dear, we'll have him right in no time," Madam Pomfrey replied, but inwardly, she too was worried, she couldn't see any obvious wounds, besides a small graze on Harry's knee, so whatever had caused Harry to collapse may well be serious.

"How did he get this?" Madam Pomfrey asked, motioning toward the graze. "Was he bitten by anything?"

"No, he just fell over onto a sharp piece of rock. He was fine straight after, but..." Ron replied, babbling.

"Rock, what rock?" Madam Pomfrey asked, her medical mind stretched to the limit. There were some forms of moss and lichen that were poisonous, so she immediately jumped to the conclusion of poisoning. Madam Pomfrey looked at Harry whose face was turning pale. It definitely looked like poison, but not knowing which one, it would be hard to treat. Maybe she would need the assistance of Professor Snape to brew an antidote.

"Rock...in his pocket!" Ron said excitedly as he quickly found the rock that Harry had put in his pocket after he had fallen. Ron gave it to Madam Pomfrey, who blanched.

"What's wrong? What's on the rock?" Hermione asked quickly.

"That's not a rock," Professor Snape answered in a concerned voice. "That's a basilisk fang."

"Oh my..." Madam Pomfrey muttered, before rushing to get a book from her bookshelf to look up the antidote.

When Madam Pomfrey returned with a large book labelled 'B' she turned the pages quickly to the section on Basilisks, their poison and the antidote.

'Basilisk poison is countered only by the blood of another member of the afflicted's family, or at least a blood relation, within the first two hours after poisoning' the book read.

"Does he have any relatives?" Madam Pomfrey asked quickly.

"Yes, an aunt and a cousin who are blood relations to him," Hermione answered quickly.

"We need them to apparate quickly or portkey to the grounds. Their blood is the only thing that will save him," Madam Pomfrey replied.

"Uh...they can't apparate, they're Muggles," Hermione replied in a despondent voice.

Madam Pomfrey looked at Hermione with a defeated look on her face. She could heal most things, she could regrow arms, and shorten teeth. But she couldn't cure this, not without a relative's blood.

"I'm afraid then, Miss Granger, that he is going to die," Madam Pomfrey said in a completely defeated tone.

"You've got to do something!" Ron exclaimed in a panicky voice, and lunged forward toward Harry, only to be held back by Professor Snape. Madam Pomfrey could only shake her head in disagreement.

"Do you mean we just have to stand here and watch him die?" Hermione said, watching the colour continue to drain out of Harry's face.

"The truth is hard to take sometimes, dear, but it is the truth nonetheless. Yes, I am afraid we can do nothing for him right now."

"Professor Snape, why does blood work as an antidote?" Hermione asked the potions master, an idea having formed in her head.

"It is not known, but I believe that it has something to do with the bond that family share. The bond where one would willingly lay down their life for another, formed by love. It is the reason why Potter here survived that curse when he was one, as well. This is why I think blood is the strongest antidote of all," the Potions master replied.

"Then I will give my blood. If I fail, we are no worse than before, if I succeed, then it is something that could not have been achieved," Hermione stated, indicating that she had already made up her mind.

"I'm afraid you're wrong, Miss Granger. If you fail, which I have no intent of letting you, we are indeed much worse than before. You too will be poisoned." Madam Pomfrey said.

"I can't just stand here and let Harry die. If my blood has a chance of reviving Harry, then that's a risk I'm willing to take," Hermione persisted.

"No dear, I understand your concern, but...I can't let you throw your life away on the off chance that it might work," Madam Pomfrey said gently.

"Madam Pomfrey, please. I wouldn't have had a life to lose if Harry hadn't gone down to get me earlier..." Hermione trailed off. Madam Pomfrey just shook her head.

Hermione, obviously frustrated at the seeming insistence of Madam Pomfrey to let Harry die, pulled a handkerchief out of her pocket, and transfigured it into a blade.

"Granger! What are you doing?" Snape snapped behind Hermione, while still holding Ron still.

"If you will not help me help Harry, then I will do it myself," Hermione said fiercely. She was going to try to help Harry, whether with or without the approval of the staff.

Madam Pomfrey clucked and watched as Hermione made to turn the blade onto her own hand.

"Stop!" Madam Pomfrey exclaimed suddenly, making Hermione hesitate. "You don't know what you are doing!"

Hermione looked the kindly matron in the eye, and replied. "I know. But if you, a trained mediwitch, won't help me, then I have no choice."

Madam Pomfrey sighed. She had to choose, whether to go with her training, and attempt not allow this to happen, or to help Hermione, knowing that she would probably try by herself anyway. Without medical training.

"OK," Madam Pomfrey said finally, "we shall try."

Skillfully making an incision on a vein in Hermione's hand, and doing the same to Harry, Madam Pomfrey pressed the two freely bleeding wounds together. Meanwhile, Ron and Professor Snape watched on, knowing that this action would either result in Harry being saved, or Hermione dying. There was also the possibility of Harry still dying, and Hermione remaining alive, or vice versa but that did not cross the pair's minds at the moment.

Hermione grimaced as the poison in Harry's blood mixed with her own, but remained steadfast at Harry's side. After that initial burning sensation, Hermione felt something different, like a life force flowing out of her body. She assumed that this feeling was either that of her dying, or giving life to Harry.

"Please let it work," Hermione repeated over and over under her breath. Eventually, her vision started blurring, and she felt devoid of energy. Hermione was remotely aware of Madam Pomfrey approaching and breaking the connection between her and Harry. Hermione struggled to maintain it, but at this time, was substantially weaker than Madam Pomfrey, and could do nothing.

"No dear, that's enough. If this is going to work, you would have given enough blood already. I would take no more, even from a blood relative. Now, have some of this potion to restore your energy, and get some rest," Madam Pomfrey said kindly, but with a tone that told Hermione not to argue.

Hermione accepted the potion, and after drinking it, fell into a deep, content sleep. Madam Pomfrey hooked a monitoring orb to both Hermione and Harry. If there was any dramatic change in their vital signs, she would be alerted. Madam Pomfrey also checked the oversize fireplace in the ward, and the jar of floo powder above it. If all else failed, she would send them to St. Mungos.

"Are they OK?" Ron asked Madam Pomfrey softly.

"You can stand here and watch if you wish, but they seem fine for the moment. It doesn't seem Miss Granger has taken any damage from the blood transfer, but the next half hour will tell if Harry has benefited at all," Madam Pomfrey replied. Then, motioning toward the orbs, Madam Pomfrey added "Those orbs, they contain blue smoke when the subject is healthy, and gradually fade to white depending on how sick they are. Should the smoke turn completely white, the patient has...departed."

Ron looked at the two orbs, noticing that Hermione's orb was still quite blue, although a lighter shade than what was indicated as 'healthy' on the box that Madam Pomfrey had taken it out of. She seemed fine. Harry, on the other hand, had turned his orb to a light shade of blue, which was still gradually fading to white, much like blue paint with white paint very slowly being added to it. For the first time in his life, Ron Weasley felt religious, and he prayed, not to any specific god or power, but to any entity that would hear him. Then, sitting between Hermione and Harry, Ron wept, knowing the possibility that he could lose both his best friends in one blow.

Harry felt himself floating above his own body, and when he looked down, he saw Professor Snape conjuring a stretcher, and bringing him to Madam Pomfrey. All the while he was getting further and further away from his body, and the scene below him, it slowly fading as he climbed higher and higher. Harry noticed Hermione was arguing with Madam Pomfrey, with a blade in her hand. Eventually, as Madam Pomfrey performed her work on both himself and Hermione, Harry noticed a kind of translucent grey tunnel form around him. He could see through it, to the scene below, and he did this, wondering what was happening below. As the image shifted around so that it lay at the end of the tunnel, rather than underneath it, Harry wondered if this was what death felt like. It was rather lonely, but also quite peaceful, distanced from the Earth and all its troubles.

"Hello, Harry. We didn't expect you here so soon," a female voice said from behind Harry.

Harry turned around to face two people. He recognised them immediately as his parents, from the pictures he had in his album.

"Mum? Dad?" Harry asked his parents.

"Yes Harry, it is us. So how have you been?" James Potter asked his son.

"That's a stupid question to ask!" Lily Potter interrupted. "If he was fine, he wouldn't be up here would he?"

James looked down in embarrassment, looking much like Harry when he did the same. "Oh. Of course."

Harry smiled at the image of his parents. He had heard them speak before, in the graveyard after the third task, but never under happy circumstances. The only other memory he had of their voices, was of the day he lost them, making him an orphan. They seemed happy together, playful yet serious at the same time.

"I didn't think that was possible..." Lily said, motioning toward the image at the end of the tunnel, of Hermione giving blood, and life, to Harry.

"Either, but obviously, she cares for Harry very much..." James said, before his voice cracked under the emotional stress he was under, and a tear rolled down his cheek.

"Am I dead?" Harry worked up the courage to ask his parents.

Lily noticed Harry's nervousness immediately, and sat down next to the son she never really knew. Putting a hand on his shoulder to put Harry at ease, Lily smiled at him. When Harry looked at her, Lily noticed that he had relaxed somewhat.

"No, Harry, you have not departed, unless you choose to be. We are here, as your closest relatives in this plain, to offer you the Choice. Only those who hover between life and death are given the Choice, and this is how you are now. Obviously, if you are not badly injured enough you will not come here, but stay down in your own body. If you are injured too badly, your body cannot sustain you any longer, or you are hit with the Killing Curse, you are not given the Choice, you have died. You, Harry, must choose between life, and death. It is not often an easy choice. Your friend has given you enough energy to allow you to Choose, else you would have died.

"What about people like the Longbottoms, trapped in their own body?" Harry asked his mother.

"Unfortunately, they have not died, nor do they hover at the brink of death. They are perfectly healthy physically. It is just that their minds have left them. We knew each other, they were a nice couple, more lives ruined by he who you battle," James replied for Lily.

"Voldemort. Can you see me from this plain? Or are we lost from the Earth forever?" Harry asked both of his parents.

"We can watch, yes, but not interfere, unless our visages are needed elsewhere. Some have escaped, longing to return to the Earth, and have become ghosts. But the only time we have left this plain was to visit you in the Mirror of Erised, and of course, that horrible business last year," Lily replied.

"So I have to choose, between life and death?" Harry asked.

"That's correct, Harry. I personally would not mind if you chose either. But it is your choice, and yours only to make. To choose death, walk into the light behind me. To choose life, walk toward your figure down there on the bed," James replied.

"I'm really not sure. How much time do I have?" Harry asked.

"You have all the time in the world, Harry. Obviously, time up here and down there correspond, so if you wait for too long, you will die of old age. But beside that, there is no restriction," James replied. "You can, of course speak your mind up here. Only myself and your mother will hear."

"Well," Harry said, "I would choose death, and I can be with you, my parents whom I have never known."

"That's true, Harry, you will be with us," Lily replied. "But are you sure? To give up life is just that. You will not return to Earth, to the people you have known all your life. My sister and your cousin for instance. I noticed that you seem to get along now. Then we have your friends, from Hogwarts. I'm afraid I don't know their names."

"Hermione and Ron," Harry replied, assuming, correctly, that his mother was talking about them.

"Yes, you three seem to share a lot in common. You give all of that up," Lily said.

"And then there's also Remus and Sirius, who I am happy to say have taken care of you as I would have liked to, given similar circumstances," James added.

Harry looked lost and despondent.

"Nobody said it's an easy choice to make, Harry. It's probably the hardest one you'll ever know. And due to us departing at such an early age, it makes it even harder for you."

After a period of silence, Harry said, "If there was any way, any way at all, that I could communicate with you two, I would choose life. I really would. But it is hard to do this, losing you, my parents, for a long time..."

"Spoken like a wise man, Harry. And, fortunately, not too far fetched," James said, while a dawn of realisation formed in Lily's eyes.

"Of course!" Lily replied.

"Of course what?" Harry asked, getting very confused.

"Harry, Harry. Have you ever explored your Gringott's vault?" Lily asked.

"I've only been in there to buy stuff for school, why?" Harry replied curiously.

"Yes, I notice you had. You've been very responsible with it. In fact, you're spending less than the interest, so it's growing for you. But there's something else in there, behind the door so it wouldn't be found by anyone who broke into the vault, or the person who kept your key," Lily said.

"What is it?" Harry asked.

"A diary, an enchanted diary. While we were under the Fidelius charm, we wrote an enchanted diary. We told Sirius to tell you this in the event of our death. Obviously, in the heat of the moment, he forgot, or he forgot in Azkaban, after being accused of our death," Lily replied.

"It's special though. When you die, all belongings on you stay with you, and work in the same way. You could still perform spells with your wand in your pocket, for instance. The diary is a two way one, as opposed to a snapshot in time of us. The other side..." Lily said, fishing inside her robes, "is here. Obviously, it's not the same as us being there for you, but, I suppose it's better than nothing. James and myself used to use it sometimes, to communicate so nobody could hear us and not see us under the charm. Now you can use it as well. It will recognise you, although you may have to unlock it with the words "Whoever undertakes to set himself up as a judge of truth and knowledge is shipwrecked by the laughter of the gods."

"He's never going to remember that!" James exclaimed.

"Give him credit, he might have my brains, not yours!" Lily retorted.

James rolled his eyes, but was surprised when Harry repeated the quote verbatim.

"That was Einstein's quote," Lily said to Harry. Harry nodded, making up his final decision.

"Who was Einstein?" James asked Lily.

"A famous Muggle scientist. A genius, although his theories have been often used for evil purposes," Lily said with regret.

Lily fell silent as she noticed Harry thinking hard about his decision.

"Harry, have you decided?" James asked.

"Yes, I will choose life, but only just. Are you sure that diary exists? Because that's what changed my mind," Harry said.

"Yes, the diary is there, where I said it will be," Lily replied.

"Will you walk me to the barrier, before I cross back into life?" Harry asked his parents, not wanting to leave them.

"Yes we will, Harry. You know, we're proud of you, we really are. I was hoping you'd choose life, not that I'd complain if you didn't. If you're anything like what I think you are, you're going to hate me for saying this, but the world still needs you, Harry. You're important to them," Harry's mother said.

Harry just rolled his eyes upward, and tears formed in his eyes. Lily reached out and gave him a hug, a mother's protective hug which he had never experienced in his memory. It would stay with Harry for all his days. James walked up to Harry and ruffled up his hair, and slowly, they walked toward the barrier of life. It was the hardest walk Harry would ever make in his life, knowing that once he crossed through the barrier, he would never see or speak to his parents again in person. At the edge of the barrier, Harry hesitated, looking at his parents who he knew could not cross. James walked up to his son, and without warning, tickled him fiercely under the ribs. As Harry flinched backward, he fell through the barrier, back towards life.

While crossing back to life, Harry waved at his parents, who waved back.

***

"Can we go and see him...please?" Both Ron and Hermione pleaded with Madam Pomfrey.

Madam Pomfrey relented, saying "Alright, but make sure he doesn't get out of bed or put any stress on his body - he's weak enough as it is."

"Thank you!" Hermione replied brightly, walking into the hospital wing.

As Ron and Hermione reached where Harry was lying in bed, without his glasses on, looking rather pale. Harry made to get out of bed to greet them, but Hermione stopped him with a firm hand on his chest, saying "Don't, or you'll get us kicked out!"

Harry looked around for Madam Pomfrey, and when he couldn't see her, made to rise again. Without Harry noticing, Ron pulled out his wand and hit Harry with a paralysis curse, which immobilised Harry's body from the neck down, causing him to seemingly relax in his bed.

Noticing a slightly guilty look on Ron's face, Harry asked "Ron, what did you just do?"

"Making sure you don't get us kicked out..." Ron replied.

"The paralysis curse?" Hermione asked with an amused voice.

Ron chuckled, before replying, "It was the nicest thing to do, really. I could have used ropes or the full body bind, but I think this is less stressful on everyone, and Harry can still speak."

Hermione pulled Harry's blankets off him, and lifted one of his limp arms from his side. Gently, Hermione rolled Harry's hand into a fist, and enclosed it inside her own.

"Seems to be working," Hermione replied to Ron.

"What's working?" Ron asked.

"The paralysis curse," Hermione explained.

"How do you figure that?" Harry replied curiously.

"You'd never let me do this if you could help it. Or if you did, you would be all tense and clammy, rather than relaxed. That much, I know." Hermione replied in a kind voice.

"What are you doing anyway?" Harry asked in a curious, but anxious voice.

"Oh, just making sure one of my best friends is actually human. Ten fingers...yep. Ten toes...yep. Joints all bend in the right way...uh...yep," Hermione said, bending Harry's arm at the elbow. "Now, there's only one more thing to check..." Hermione knew that Harry would be fidgeting under the close attention he was receiving now if he could actually move and even now, Harry didn't look too comfortable.

"Uh, I think that's going a little too far, Hermione," Ron offered.

"Oh, if you would kindly remove your mind above your own waistline, Ron..." Hermione retorted, putting her ear on Harry's chest, listening to all his internal organs doing their work. It was really just an excuse to look at Harry properly, without him either pulling more blankets over himself or running away.

"Uh...sorry for getting you guys into this mess," Harry said softly.

"You haven't gotten us into any mess, why you're the one in the bed, Harry," Ron retorted.

"I meant before, and all this business with Voldemort. He's only after you two because of me, so if you two decided that it would be better..." Harry started, with a look in his eyes which clearly told both Ron and Hermione that saying this was hurting him, but something he thought necessary to keep his two friends from further danger.

Hermione reached out and ran her hand gently over Harry's eyelids, closing them. She couldn't bear to see that pained look in Harry's eyes anymore. "You think we hadn't already thought of that?" Hermione retorted, surprising both Ron and Harry. Neither had expected Hermione to say that. It shocked Ron that Hermione, one of the closest friends that he and Harry had, would say this.

"...But we're both here, standing next to you. What does that say to you, Harry? After all that we've been through together, did you think we're going to just walk away and leave you alone? Well then, I'm sorry to disappoint you, Harry, but I'm not going. And, I doubt Ron is going anywhere quickly either." Hermione finished.

"Too right. Harry, you've got enough enemies in this world, don't try to push your friends away," Ron added.

"But...but you could get hurt. The last thing I want is for one of you two to become another...statistic," Harry said. Hermione felt dampness under the hand she had placed over Harry's eyes, and knew that he was crying. Crying out of worry for his friends, and relief in the knowledge that he wouldn't be alone.

"And we don't care. If it makes you feel any better, I absolve you of any blame for any harm that may come to myself in the future...unless of course, you hex me," Hermione replied in a soft voice. Hermione could feel Harry nodding under her hand.

"Now, how am I going to get all of that into your head, Harry?" Hermione asked teasingly, smiling at the look of horror that appeared on Harry's face.

"Oh yes, it does seem that our dear friend here is paralysed..." Ron added, poking Harry in the chest for effect.

"Don't do anything...please," Harry asked in an almost pleading tone.

Fortunately for Harry, Ron and Hermione were interrupted by Professor McGonagall who strode into the hospital wing, clearly annoyed. Hermione quickly pulled Harry's blankets back up under his chin.

"Potter...we need to talk," Professor McGonagall said curtly.

"Erm...okay," Harry said meekly.

"You foolish boy! You could have been killed!" Professor McGonagall started. Harry looked down at his blankets, which had suddenly become very interesting.

"I don't know what goes through that head of yours, Potter, but I thought we had lost you. You should have been safely locked away in the Common room, but no, you consistently throw yourself in the path of trouble. Don't tempt fate, Potter, because it will catch up with you eventually. Look at the bigger picture, Potter. Your death would impact heavily on the morale of the community at large. I may not see you that way, but some people out there see you as the equal of the Headmaster." Professor McGonagall ranted on.

Harry squirmed under the glare his head-of-house was giving him.

Turning to Ron and Hermione, Professor McGonagall said "You two, you couldn't have picked a better friend. Well, maybe if he had more brains to match his Gryffindor bravery, it would be preferable, but I'd be nit-picking. Next time before he does anything stupid, stop him. I don't care what you do - just make sure he doesn't look for trouble again."

"Oh Potter," Professor McGonagall added. "Do try to get well soon - Severus will be unbearable if he wins the Quidditch cup this year." At that, Professor McGonagall turned around and exited the hospital wing, rushing to her next class. Ron too, had to leave for Quidditch practice, leaving Hermione and Harry alone.

As Hermione tucked Harry's blankets firmly under his chin, she noticed a look on Harry's face that suggested that, once again, he was thinking hard about something.

"Harry, something's on your mind," Hermione said to Harry plainly, hoping for a response. After a few more moments of thought, Hermione received one.

"If the person who saved your life was tucking you into bed like a little kid, you'd have plenty on your mind as well," Harry replied.

"Oh, is that what it is? Well, you're welcome, Harry," Hermione replied.

"I hadn't even..." Harry started.

"Yes, I know you haven't thanked me yet. But you don't need to, and I don't need to hear it. I know you're thinking it, anyway," Hermione interrupted.

"I owed you one, anyway," Hermione added.

After a period of silence, in which Hermione spent looking at Harry with a worried look on her face, Harry asked,

"Hermione, would you please stop looking at me like that? I'm not going to die...not soon anyway."

Hermione chuckled. "I know. But I can't help feeling lucky that you're still with us, though."

"I'm just like anyone else, you know. I've gotten lucky, that's all," Harry replied.

"Yeah, some luck though. All three Unforgivables, as well as Basilisk poison," Hermione ticked off an invisible checklist.

"I suppose," Harry said softly.

            ***

That evening, Madam Pomfrey discharged him from the Hospital Wing, and Harry made his way to Gryffindor Tower with her. As they reached the portrait hole, Madam Pomfrey looked down at her most prolific patient with a sense of pride, and shooed him inside. Harry thanked her for her help, and made his way into the tower, with a feeling that all was good with the world, once again.