Harry Potter and the Orb of Slytherin

Chapter 4: Harry's Decision

July 26^th

Darkness. Harry's subconscious was mustered when he heard a door being opened in the distant part of his mind. He didn't open his eyes, but he could feel that he was in bed and that, somehow, he was alive. A pleasant voice spoke and Harry listened, deciding not yet to awake.

"How are you doing Ginny?"

"I'm alright. He stirred a little a while ago. I think he may come around soon."

"You really should get some rest. You look awful. You must be tired."

"I'll live. I really want to be here for him when he wakes. I'm glad you're okay. I didn't hear a lot of details, but from what I heard, it was quite a frightening ordeal."

"It was. Everything happened so fast, but before being knocked out I remember thinking we were going to die. All I could think about was Harry and wondering where he was. I've never admitted it before, but Ron and I both depend on him. We need him and he proved why."

"We all need him. I don't know if you've gotten a chance to read the Daily Prophet but from what eyewitnesses saw, Harry was very brave. It was said that he was surrounded by dozens of Inferi and fended them off saving you and Ron... he does seem to have a knack for making sure you two are always taken care of..."

Harry could hear a light sobbing in the darkness and knew Ginny was starting to cry. Harry never would have forgotten Ginny had she been in the same trouble Hermione and Ron were in at the time, but a pang of guilt spread through his heart anyway, because he knew Ginny didn't feel that way. He was sure it was still best that he had broken up with Ginny and not tried to get any closer. The attack on Hogsmeade might have been aimed at Harry himself as well as friends who meant everything to him. How much more of a victory would a dead girlfriend be to Voldemort than dead best friends? Harry once again felt a pang in his heart when he realized that the loss of Ron or Hermione would be a much deeper hit to him than that of Ginny, no matter how much Harry tried to convince himself otherwise.

"Hermione, what have I done?"

"We were children, Ginny; that's all it was and I'm a part of this as much as you. It was just a foolish notion. I should have stopped you, but I didn't."

"It seemed so real, so perfect. I thought I had it planned so wonderfully."

There was a pause and Harry strained to listen better without moving. What were they talking about? Harry would have opened his eyes and asked himself if he wasn't so brutally tired, so he continued to listen.

"Why were you and the boys down there, Hermione? Why did you leave without telling anyone? I would have thought someone like you would never have done something like that."

"Yes, well, as you already know, I've become adept at letting things slide recently."

"Still, why were you there? Harry and even Ron would have known better to go somewhere like Hogsmeade without telling anyone."

"Harry said he needed air, that's all. I don't think anyone has the heart to refuse him these days." Harry heard Hermione shift uneasily - he noticed she always did the few times he knew she was lying.

"Why didn't he invite me to come too? I understand why we're failing, but have I lost his friendship too?"

"Ginny, listen very carefully to me. There are things at work right now that... well... you just don't understand. I need you to trust me when I say Harry is not trying to snub you. He loves you."

Ginny chuckled soberingly before beginning to sob again. "Love. What is that? These days... you can just bottle it."

"Ginny, it's going to be alright. We'll figure something out. Please, go get some rest - I'll stay here and if Harry wakes up, I'll come get you first thing."

Harry heard a pause, then a shuffling of a chair nearby and Ginny's footsteps tread lightly out the door.

"Oh Harry," Harry heard Hermione sigh. "We have it tough, but there's nothing to complain about in light of your burden." Harry, deep down, could tell she was grieving as well, but was trying to be strong. Harry could sense her lean in and her voice whispered in his ear.

"Thank you Harry. You are our last hope... my last hope, but I believe in you."

Harry slipped into a deep slumber again, but not before giving off a sigh of his own. I will always be there to save you, Hermione.

* * *

July 31^st

Harry shook his head and got up from the floor, but he was still shaking violently and his hands were wrapped around himself. If only he had known that spell, he would have been able to completely crush Voldemort's plan to harm what Harry loved most. His fist was clenched and he burned from within. As Harry suspected, Voldemort was going to find Harry's weak spots and squeeze until he was in the open. He wanted Harry dead and he was not going to spare any unpleasantry to accomplish it. Harry had wanted Ron and Hermione at his side, but now, Harry was at a crossroads. Would he be able to protect them from harm all the time? Should he go about hunting down the Horcruxes alone? Would Voldemort forget about Ron and Hermione if he did so?

Harry rubbed his forehead and sat back down on his bed. He turned the page of the spellbook from the Sartorium enchantment and his eyes became fixed on what he stumbled upon. The title at the top of the page read: "Spell of Untraceability." Harry began to read and found that the caster of the spell could render himself undetectable by any magical means and could be discovered only by the normal senses while under the magical shield. The wizard or witch would become "one with the darkness." Not even amulets or magical items would work unless the wizard so decided to allow the item to detect him and he knew exactly what that item was for. It was a highly complex spell that required an intricate web of ritualistic devices while chanting an incantation, but Harry was already consumed with awe.

"A spell that would make me undetectable except by the senses?" Harry began to think to himself excitedly. "If I had my invisibility cloak, I would be a ghost - I would be able to go anywhere I pleased... and no wizard would be able to stop me... nor would I be able to be found unless I wished to be!" If Voldemort had known what this book contained he would have hunted Borgin down like a dog.

Harry stood up from his bed and looked out his window into the dark summer night. All his memories came flooding back in a torrent of happiness as well as horror. Hogwarts in all its wonder; three happy friends walking through Hogsmeade; three Quidditch championships; Cedric's life treated as rubbish; his last remaining family murdered in front of him; and now - he tried to take Ron and Hermione... the bastard won't have them. It's time for action.

Harry began formulating his plans for leaving when the doorbell rang. Harry knew it was the Order come to finally retrieve him from his prison. It was time to leave the Dursleys forever. Harry didn't have anything to pack as everything was already at the Order's headquarters. He pulled out his wand and vanished his spell book, hoping, once again, that Mad-Eye did not see it. He then opened Hedwig's cage and let her out - she fluttered to Harry's outstretched forearm where she waited expectantly.

"Smart bird you are Hedwig," Harry said. "You knew I was going to be coming to you when I made my decision didn't you?"

Hedwig clicked surreptitiously, as if she was waiting for the rest before deciding whether she should hate him or accept it.

"Hedwig, you already know what I have to do. If Ron or Hermione or even you for that matter are harmed because of your association to me, I don't know what I'd do. I have to go out and destroy the Horcruxes on my own. I may be gone quite some time and you won't be able to find me once I'm under the Spell of Untraceability... please forgive me for asking this of you, but I need you to take care of them. You're the smartest bird I've ever known and I know I can depend on you."

Hedwig hooted positively in response and Harry's heart was strengthened when he knew his owl was with him to the end.

"Do you want to fly with me as the Order takes me back to Grimmauld Place?" Harry asked Hedwig, who again hooted in the confirmative.

"And what about me, Master Harry?" Worthwhile finally spoke up. He had been watching the exchange between Harry and Hedwig and felt a little out of place. Since Harry had taken him from the dingy little shop on Knockturn Alley a few weeks back, he had gotten to know Harry, and while he was still very reserved about his past and what he told him, he now trusted Harry and didn't want to part from his company.

"I've told you Worthwhile, it's just Harry," he turned to the snake and replied. "I have the hope that you will join me. You and I will make a good team as I'm out on my own. You will be much easier to hide when I need to hide you and much more intimidating to others when I don't. I'm hoping we can learn more about each other and work together to defeat Voldemort - end these dark times once and for all. Besides, who will read that inscription in the cave Ramses told us about?"

"I accept. I will not let you down, Master."

Harry sighed one more time and allowed the serpent to slide up his arm and onto his shoulders after he had donned his cloak and put up his hood. The Dursleys had answered the door and the Aurors who had come to escort Harry were probably waiting for him.

He was about to turn off the light and start out when he noticed a crumpled up envelope in the wastebasket. Hermione had it in her hand the evening he came back from Borgin and Burke's when all his adventures began. Hedwig flew up to the top of his head as Harry reached out and picked it up. Inside was a letter, which Harry pulled out and examined.

Dear Harry,

Words cannot express my anguish. I have been such a fool and if you never forgive me, I am horrified to say I would completely understand. You said you bring nothing but death, but I am of the belief that you have given us life when there are those who would wish there was none. People in this world still have hope, even when Albus Dumbledore, our great defender, has passed. They have hope even when Voldemort kills without mercy and seeks to drain the happiness from life itself. They have hope in love and courage and it's because you have given it to them.

Harry, I beg of you with all that holds true in my broken heart to forgive me. You are a great wizard and I know you can save us all. If you will still allow me, I will stand by you until the end as will Ron and everyone here who knows you are the answer, even if you may not see it yet. Dumbledore believed in you, so his death was not in vain, nor was it your fault. It was just one step towards the destruction of Voldemort, who will fall. I believe it. I believe it.

We need you Harry. I need you. Please come home.

Yours truly,

Hermione

Harry's heart was overflowing and he needed a pause to take into consideration what this must have taken out of her to write - a letter she eventually threw away, too afraid to give him once they actually spoke. He folded the letter neatly and placed it in the inner pocket of his cloak. He stood up once more and, at that moment, all fear left his body. In an instant, he was seized by courage and the love found in friendship. He was going to do what needed to be done and until he had taken his last breath, he would make sure his friends did not suffer any longer.

He walked resolutely out into the hallway, but turned and looked into the room one last time. With a blink and a click of the light switch, he left it and walked down the stairs.

Once he had descended to the bottom, he saw an always-amusing scene. Four able wizards all cloaked and armed with wands were standing next to the door while Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia, and Dudley were huddled together nearby, looking fearful and cowardly.

"Wotcher, Harry," came Tonks' voice from the end.

Tonks was looking much better than the last time he had seen her. Since her relationship with Remus Lupin began, her days had been happier despite the gloom surrounding the world after Dumbledore's death. Her hair was currently a chipper shade of red which Harry smiled slightly when he saw.

Alastor Moody was looking grumpier than usual, but Harry knew well enough that it was a good thing. He was staring intently at the Dursleys, his electric-blue eye swiveling about in its merry, random dance.

Others present in the room were Kingsley Shacklebolt and Lupin himself.

"I'm sorry I took so long," Harry said, letting down his hood, allowing Hedwig to fly off and out into the night sky.

"Well, let's be off," Moody growled as he hooded himself and started out the door. "There's no protection under this house once the clock strikes midnight, so we should leave as quickly as possible."

"Indeed." Instead of walking out, however, Harry turned to look at the Dursleys.

As Uncle Vernon eyed him suspiciously, Harry thought back to the last sixteen years of his life. Dumbledore had always been careful to note in Harry's presence that although they treated Harry poorly over the years and never gave him a second thought, his remaining family still took him. He didn't want to leave them with a sniff and a turn.

"I want to thank you," Harry finally said, very evenly, but rather warmly.

"Thank us?" Vernon replied, squinting his eyes and looking rather as though Harry had just broken something but didn't know what it was.

"Yes. You've hated and despised me and my kind, but because you've spent sixteen years watching over me... you've saved my life. No matter what you may think of me, or I of you, I will always appreciate it and I know my mum and dad would have too."

Petunia looked as though she had just received really sad news while Vernon looked confused. For the first time in Harry's lifetime, he allowed his disdainful face to wash away and he nodded.

Harry nodded as well, took one last look around Number Four, Privet Drive, and walked out into the moonlight, his cloak billowing behind him.

Harry arrived at Order Headquarters to a gathering of friends and Order members. All of them nearly trampled him before he could get across the doorway; they came bearing gifts and smiles and birthday wishes. It almost made Harry change his mind about his decision, but he was determined. He would save this - he would save them all.

"Harry! Happy birthday!" Mrs. Weasley gathered Harry up into a big hug and then held him at semi-arms' length to look at him. "It's so wonderful that you are finally back for good."

"It's good to be back." Harry looked around at all the shining and hopeful faces. It brought him back to the good times he had that weren't spoiled by all the current rampant hatred and fear.

After a few hours of hugs and presents and talks and laughs, Harry finally pulled himself away and sauntered quietly up to his room. Since the end of the previous year at Hogwarts, Harry had taken up board in Sirius' old room. He had decided he didn't want to avoid his godfather's memory. Instead, he wanted to dwell on it and come to terms with what Sirius had meant to Harry in the short time they had known each other.

The room was somewhat dark, but not as dark as the rest of the large house. It had a sense of rich feeling and anxiousness that Harry thought fit Sirius very well. There were two large cabinets that framed a four-poster on one side of the master bedroom and a rather large writing desk on the other.

The desk had always fascinated Harry. It was riddled with tiny drawers on every inch of desk, many of which Harry still had not gotten around to opening. None were ever empty and each one contained something different. The last drawer Harry had opened contained a dried rose and a self-sharpening pocketknife. The drawer before it had a small amulet shaped like a skull that Harry feared to even touch.

Harry had only gotten a couple of chances to explore the room in the past month and was anxious to be there once more. As he reached the door, he heard a familiar voice call from behind him. Ginny appeared, huffing up the flight of stairs that led to Harry's wing.

"Harry! Please stay with us a little longer! Everyone is so eager to be with you tonight." Ginny came up to Harry with a hopeful expression, looking into his eyes.

"I'm really tired, Ginny. I have a terrible load on my mind and it's starting to wear me down at the moment." Harry looked away, unable to take Ginny's looks. All he could do was lie. "I'll be here in the morning."

"I've missed you. Perhaps now that you're here permanently, things can be different." Ginny looked imploringly at Harry, but he turned back towards the door to his room.

"Let's save it for the morning, okay Ginny?" Harry walked into the room and closed it quietly.

He leaned back against the door he just closed and listened as Ginny's footsteps very quietly descended the stairs. A single tear fell down his cheek and he began to shake slightly. He closed his eyes and tried to shake the fear that was welling up within him. He didn't want to believe he had the courage to do what he was about to do. This was much bigger than him and he wasn't sure how Hermione and Ron would take it... how Ginny would take it.

Harry opened his eyes once more and surveyed the room. The room now had a feel of home... if he even knew what that really was anymore. His trunk was placed at the foot of his bed and his desk still had the same parchment and ink from when he had left it the week previous. Hedwig was already in her cage, sound asleep and everything looked and smelled rather clean - something Harry was sure he would have remedied given enough time.

During the gathering, Harry had placed Worthwhile out of the way, but had retrieved him before he made his way upstairs. He let him slide onto a large wooden post Hagrid had made for him. It had large outcroppings on the top that allowed the snake to be most at ease as he slid among and through them.

After taking off his cloak, Harry walked over to the writing desk and sat down heavily. He placed his elbows on his desk and took his head in his hands, letting his fingers grip his hair tightly as if to squeeze out perspective of everything that had happened seemingly so fast. He was only seventeen, but the whole world wanted a piece of him. Before, Harry was always able to assure himself that the ones who loved him were behind him to make sure he was safe. But now, they're dropping like flies.

Harry lifted his head and cleared his mind a bit. His throat felt scratchy and he hoped he wasn't developing a cold. Hermione had a nice little spell that would clear it away, but he didn't want to have to bother her to perform it before he left Grimmauld Place for good. To take his mind off it, Harry looked around the desk and opened a drawer he had not yet opened before. Surprisingly, he found a bag of Crazy Crumby's Curiously Compelling Cough Capsules. Harry looked from the bag to the drawer and began to wonder. He closed the door and began to wish in his mind for a box of chocolate frogs. He re-opened the drawer but it was empty.

Too bad.

Harry popped in a drop and then pulled out his wand and reanimated his large spell book, turning to the page he had left on. Harry had planned to perform the Spell of Untraceability right away, so he picked up a quill and began taking notes on what he would need that night. He would be taking a potion during the ritual and saw he would be able to obtain most of the ingredients in his potions kit, but then he noticed he would need a skrewt stinger to finish and that was a rarity, as he well knew thanks to Hagrid. However, Harry knew Hagrid carried loads of odd things in that wonderful moleskin jacket of his and decided he would go down and ask him about it before he left for the night.

After finishing the notes of things he needed to accomplish, Harry walked to his bed and laid down with the intention to rest a couple seconds when the door knocked. He vanished his book and waved his wand at the door, allowing it to open. Hermione and Ron walked in and sat down on opposite ends of the bed.

"We didn't know you had left, Harry," Ron said. "Everyone is still looking for you."

"Everyone except Ginny," Hermione followed, "who, at the moment, seems really depressed. Did she try to talk to you?"

Harry nodded and replied. "She doesn't understand and I can't blame her. We're keeping a big secret from her and she must have some sort of an idea." Harry felt a lump grow in his throat. He now had a secret from Hermione and Ron and he didn't feel good about it. "I hope you aren't mad at me for all this, Ron."

"No, I'm not. To tell you the truth, though, I don't think you're having the same feelings for her as you did at the beginning of the year, am I right?"

Harry sat straight up in his bed with a wide look in his eyes, but he made no reply under Ron's blank and expectant look. He looked from Ron to Hermione, who was looking away. He breathed out a little and then turned back to Ron.

"How did you know?"

"Ginny talked to me. She's sure you don't like her anymore."

"I don't understand it. There used to be this sort of monster that welled up inside of me and controlled my feelings towards her, both good and bad. They were hard to keep in check sometimes. For a little while now, however, they've been gone. I've wanted to believe it's because I've had to do even more growing up while she was left behind, but honestly, I just don't know anymore."

"I think I understand. There can be times when you like a person more than other times... trust me... I know. However, Ginny also thinks... well..."

"Thinks what?"

"She thinks you may be in love with someone else."

Harry paused for a second and then started laughing.

"Why would she think that? I haven't been around anyone new in ages! When would I have the time, for that matter? Who could she think I was falling in love with?"

Ron paused a second before turning his head away slightly as well. Harry once again looked from Ron to Hermione and back again.

"What's going on? Who is it Ron?"

"Hermione," Ron croaked.

Harry sank back in his bed and a flood of realization all came whirling into his mind. Of course it's Hermione. If there is one person Ginny could and should be jealous of, it's Hermione. Harry looked at Hermione once more and she met his eyes. Hermione had a very fearful look and was near tears.

"You're not, are you?" Ron turned back to Harry

"No," he answered, not breaking his gaze from Hermione's. He wasn't quite sure why he answered that so quickly, but he didn't have the time to contemplate where he was romantically at the moment.

"This has come up many times before. Cho Chang, Viktor Krum, Rita Skeeter, your mum - all of them have inquired about our relationship and the same answer was always given."

Harry broke his lock with Hermione to look once again at Ron. "We're best friends. I understand Ginny's jealousy, because I have a relationship with Hermione I just can't give her, but that can't be helped."

"She knew that too," Ron said. "I mean, the first time Hermione and Ginny ever fought was when Ginny was making her move on you and Hermione was being a nag to you... something she did all year."

"Well, Hermione and I may have been on less friendly grounds last year, but that's all in the past. I just wish all this wasn't coupled with the fact that for some reason, I just don't have those excited feelings I did before. It's like after Dumbledore's death, they almost vanished. I still feel them sometimes, but it's not like it was before."

At that moment, Hermione burst into tears and ran out of the room. Harry and Ron looked at each other in amazement before Ron stood up.

"What the blazes was that about?" Ron looked at Harry and asked.

"I have no idea. Do you think she feels guilty? I don't blame her for being on my case about the Prince's book anymore."

"Maybe she feels guiltier about the fact that she feels like a threat to Ginny."

"I guess that would weigh heavy on me too."

"Harry, I'm kind of glad she's not here, even though I feel bad she's crying. I need to ask you something about Ginny."

"Okay." Harry hoped Ron wasn't going to ask Harry to stick it out with his sister.

"I've felt these feelings you're describing many times, so maybe I can relate, but what's happening to you sounds a little weird. Did you ever feel like maybe you were prodded into fancying Ginny?"

"I'm not sure I follow."

"What I mean is did you have feelings for Ginny for a long time that rocketed last year or did it just all of a sudden happen?"

"It happened in a moment. It was like the monster inside me was born and grew up as quick as Norbert." Harry didn't need time to answer that. He had wondered about that himself, but had accredited it to hormones.

"Yes, that's it! That's the same with me and Hermione. I think I've always had feelings for Hermione, but last year everything changed. It turned into some sort of desperate form of jealousy the whole year. All we did before was fight and bicker much of the time, as always, until we got together. Then it turned into a ping-pong match between love and hate and it drives me bloody mad. I know we're supposed to have all these changes, but I didn't know it happened so fast and I'm glad I'm not the only one."

"What about now?"

"It's off and on. We're completely happy some days and at our throats the next. I think that's normal. It's almost like my parents, even though we fight a lot more than they do."

"Is it working?" Harry was curious how Ron perceived the future of their relationship.

"I don't know. Hermione has tried to get me to sit down and talk about our 'feelings' but I'm not sure I'm the kind of bloke who can handle that kind of stuff. She's seemed really distant lately, so maybe I'll have to bite the bullet."

"Maybe." Harry was beginning to think Ron and Hermione were having more troubles than he first thought. He hoped they would be okay while he was gone. They would need each other more than ever.

"But this is slightly different, Ron. I think you've always fancied Hermione a little right?"

"Sort of. I did and I didn't if you follow."

"Um... whatever. But with me and Ginny, that wasn't the case! I never really thought much of Ginny before last year. I just hope this is all a result of the pressure in my life. Thanks for talking to me, though. I doubt I would have been able to talk with Hermione about this. Well... maybe."

"Okay mate," Ron finally said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Get some rest and we'll talk about our plans in the morning. I'd better go find Hermione." Ron turned his back and apparated out of the room.

Once Ron left, Harry got up and began getting to work on the spell he was determined to perform. Even if he backed out on leaving Ron and Hermione behind, having the Spell of Untraceability magically hiding Harry would be the best protection anyone being hunted down by Voldemort could ask for.

After pulling his cauldron out of his trunk, Harry prepared the necessary ingredients and then magically heated it to start the brewing. While the potion bubbled and frothed between stirs, Harry set up six black candles in a circle about the width of Harry's body but did not light them, as directed in the spell book Harry checked frequently. Soon, it came time for the Skrewt's stinger and Harry started towards the door with the intention to seek out Hagrid, but then he paused. He had to try it one more time, just to make sure.

He turned and walked towards Sirius' desk and opened the drawer he had found the cough drops in and sure enough there was a small jar with a large red end of a Blast-Ended Skrewt! Harry couldn't believe his eyes. The drawer must be like the Room of Requirement at Hogwarts, Harry thought. It responds to your thoughts, but only when you really need something.

Harry opened the jar and began preparing the stinger, slicing off the end, and splitting it down the middle. After placing it in the gooey, dark mixture, which had turned a very dark shade of black, Harry stirred three more times and once again turned back to the book. Once the drought is taken, Harry saw that he needed to chant an incantation perfectly six times. If it wasn't said perfectly, the spell would fail and "the wizard will not become one with shadow," as the book put it so delicately.

"Transit lux, umbra permanent," Harry repeated over and over in his mind. The potion once again began to bubble. It was ready and Harry was too. He wasn't sure what was going to happen so he vanished his spell book and made sure no objects were on the floor near his circle. He sat back down and scooped the potion into a glass and then placed the cauldron off to the side and out of the circle's boundary. He closed his eyes, repeating the incantation in his mind one more time before downing the entire potion.

It tasted completely awful - like burnt grass lined with gasoline, but Harry made sure not to utter any sounds while he drank it in full. After swallowing and clearing his throat he clearly began his first incantation.

"Transit lux, umbra permanet."

After completing it perfectly, Harry witnessed the black candle directly in front of him light by itself; however the flame was no ordinary fire - it was a deep black. It was as if the flame was a small black hole shaped like a candle flame lick. Harry was determined not to be deterred and started the second utterance of the incantation. As soon as he finished, the second candle lit and the room began to grow dim. Hedwig hooted uncomfortably, but Harry continued.

The third and fourth utterances were made. Each time a candle was lit and each time the room became darker. Harry began to think the flames really were the essence of void and were sucking the light out of the place. Harry focused and began the fifth repetition. Now, the room was completely dark and Harry could no longer see anything, especially the candles he hoped were still lit. He came to the sixth line and repeated it perfectly.

After he chanted the line completely, there was no noise and no light. Harry felt like he was sitting in a giant vault that had no air or sound or life. He felt alone and cold - a moment later, he felt his head squeeze together as if in a vice and his body became numb with cold. He felt as if all the darkness the candles had created was sucked into his body and enveloped him in its emptiness. When it felt like he could breathe no longer, the lights burst into his eyes and he fell back blinded from the sudden reappearance of light, yelling out because he didn't know what was going on. He shielded his eyes and, after a moment, sat up and blinked them open, but they still hurt, much like one's eyes feel after being forced to get up in the morning on only a few good hours of sleep.

As Harry got up, took off his glasses, and began rubbing his eyes, Harry heard a dozen popping noises and saw through his blurry eyesight that a flurry of Weasleys and Hermione and Lupin had apparated into his room.

"Harry, what's the matter?" Mr. Weasley came over to Harry and asked, laying his hands on his shoulders as Harry continued to rub his eyes.

"Nothing, nothing," Harry said, waving his hand and gesturing that he was alright. "I... uh... had a cold and was trying to make a potion to clear up my soar throat. The drops I had weren't working for some reason. I guess I didn't brew it correctly because it sort of blew up in my face and blinded me a bit."

"The candles are a right nice touch there Harry," Ron began to chuckle.

"Oh honestly, Harry," Mrs. Weasley said with a disapproving look on her face. "I could have had you fixed up in a second. You should have come to me." She lead him out the door so that she could take a look at him as the others in the room began to look relieved.

Harry was glad he was able to come up with an excuse on the spot; but as he was led out, he saw Ginny examine the empty labeled jar on the desk that once held the skrewt stinger. Her eyes squinted and she glanced at Harry as he was whisked out. Harry knew Ginny would have enough potions know-how by her fifth year at Hogwarts to know skrewt stingers weren't normal ingredients for any respectable remedial potion. Harry hoped she wouldn't become too inquisitive.

After Mrs. Weasley had examined Harry and given him a drought for his cold, Harry was finally back inside his room. He was exhausted, but also glad. The enchantment had worked - he could feel it. He felt like he was blanketed in a sort of invisible shadow. He felt the magic working around him, protecting him.

"Well, Worthwhile, tomorrow we're off," Harry turned to the python and said with a smirk. "Get some sleep, because this is the last time you will have a permanent home for a while and we need to be off early."

The snake, which was entwined comfortably around his post, turned a bored took to Harry and finally said, "Terrific. I suppose anything is better than the shop I spent many days and nights in, but I do hope you will make an attempt to keep me warm. I don't do well in cold weather."

"Don't worry about that my friend. Our journeys will be perilous. We will need to keep each other safe, so I vow to look after you if you do the same for me."

The snake didn't answer but slightly nodded, which was a silent agreement from Worthwhile that Harry knew all too well by that time.

"Yes," said Harry as he climbed into bed that night and began to fall into deep slumber, "as Dumbledore once encouraged me, let us step out and pursue that flighty temptress adventure."

END Chapter 4