Harry Potter: Stuck

Harry sat on his bed, sipping a cup of tea while trying to come up with a game plan on how he and his friends are going to accomplish their mission. Or more accurately, his mission. Ever since Dumbledore was killed, he felt as if another weight was on his shoulders. After all, he was destined to defeat a great threat to the wizarding world by the name of Tom Riddle or more commonly known to all as Lord Voldemort. He skipped dinner that night trying to think of a bloody plan. He felt his stomach groan in hunger as he only ate a sandwich that day. He glanced at his mate and best friend, Ron, frowning. He supposed that was because of the locket. It was his turn to wear it that day and his face showed negative emotions throughout the day. He completely understands as he went through the same thing too. The three of them did. He then turned his head to his other best friend, Hermione, who was busy reading her book, Tales of Beedle the Bard, that was given to her by Dumbledore as part of his last will. He couldn't help but stare at her and everything she did. From her chest rising and falling as she breathes to when she brushes away a strand of hair from her face. He loved her for every little thing she does. She was downright beautiful. She notices him staring at her and smiles. He doesn't seem to notice that she's been keeping an eye on him for the past hour and still wasn't creeped out by the fact that her best friend was staring at her like that. She glances at Ron and notices him glaring at her. She ignores him and tries to read but fails as she notices Ron continuing to glare at her with such intensity that it was enough for a lion to cower in fear. Having had enough, she slams the book shut and places it on the bed beside her to glare at Ron. "Do you mind telling me what's wrong, Ronald?" she demands. At this, he scoffs and rolls his eyes. "Stop playing dumb, Hermione. You know exactly what's wrong," he spat. Hermione was taken aback by the reply. Harry fidgets as he looks nervously at the two. "As a matter of fact, Ronald, I don't. Now will you please tell me why are you acting this way?" she says, her tone rising. "You want to know what's wrong?!" he exclaims and stands up. "It's this bloody horcrux hunt! Ever since we left, my life has been hell! We're out here in the middle of nowhere trying to find bloody horcruxes when we could have just left this shite for the Ministry handle! But, no! Bloody Potter just had to be a bloody hero, didn't he?!" Ron shouts. Harry's eyes widen at Ron's proclamation. Ron turns to him and walks towards him but was stopped by Hermione who was fast enough to come between the two men. "Stop it!" Hermione says as she pushes back the red head. "I knew you were an attention-seeking prat trying to hog all the glory all to yourself! You wanted this! You wanted a chance to show off that you could finish what Dumbledore started so that everyone will notice you for your so called 'bravery'! You were just not contented with being the 'Boy-Who-Lived', were you? You wanted all the fame and glory! And you had to drag me and Hermione into this mess, did you?! I never wanted to come!" Ron says, jabbing a finger towards Harry. At this, Harry drops his cup of tea, shattering it, and stands up to look at Ron dead in the eye. "What are you talking about? I never wanted this! I never wanted to be a hero and never did! I never wanted to be the 'Boy-Who-Lived'! And don't even think about comparing me to that ferret! Besides, if you don't recall, Ron, you agreed to come with me! I never said you had to come! So don't place the whole blame on me when you did this to yourself!" Harry exclaims. "Stop! That's enough!" Hermione said, pushing both men away from each other. "Don't tell me to stop, Hermione! In fact you should be agreeing with me! He did this to us!" Ron exclaims. "Ron, take off the locket. It's the reason why you're acting this way," Hermione hisses. "You sure about that, Hermione? 'Cause the last time I checked the locket wasn't the one that me into this mess! I can't even get three square meals a day because of this shite!" Ron shouts, taking off the locket and forcefully threw it on the ground with a loud thud. "We are in the middle of a crisis and all you care about is your stomach?! What about your best friend?!" Hermione argued. Ron takes a step back, nodding. He clenches his fist. "This is how it is, isn't it? You're choosing him over me?!" Ron shouts. "I'm not choosing sides, Ron! I'm trying to put our friendship back together! Can you just stop this jealous business and sit down so we can talk about this?!" Hermione says. "We're talking now, aren't we?" Ron says through gritted teeth. "I meant in a civilized way, Ron!" Hermione says. "You know what, f**k this shite. I'm leaving," Ron says and heads outside the tent. "Ron, wait," Hermione says and follows him. Harry followed as well. As he exited, he saw Ron glaring at Hermione. "Let's deal with it this way, Hermione. It's either you stay here with this prat or you can come with me to the Burrow and we can live happily together and forget this ever happened," Ron growls. At this point, tears were falling down Hermione's flushed cheeks. "R-Ron, I..." she starts. "You have only two choices, Hermione. Me or Potter," Ron repeats. "Ron, please don't do this..." she says, sobbing. Harry hung his head in shame. Throughout their fight, he's been thinking about what Ron said. He was right. He brought them into this. He brought Hermione into this. He never wanted this to happen. He only wanted a normal life with her but his life is anything but normal at this point. He never should have let them come with him. This was his burden. This should never have happened if only he died when he was still a baby. There is only one way to fix this mess even though it hurts him. With a final resolve, he addressed Hermione. "You can go with him, Hermione," he says, fighting back tears. Hermione spun around to stare at his emerald eyes. "He's right. I did this. It's okay. You can go with him if you want to. I won't hold it against you," he says. "H-Harry, no..." she sobbed. "Come on, Hermione. I don't have all bloody day," Ron impatiently snapped. At this, Hermione turned back at Ron and walked towards him. Harry dreaded the fact that he expected this. Of course she was going with Ron. But all went downhill fast once Hermione was within arms reach with Ron, he opened his arms. "I knew you'd pick me. You love me," he smugly said, expecting a hug from the brunette. Instead, he received a hard right hook and a kick on the gut. He clutched his stomach and lent forward, trying to catch his breath which was knocked out of him. Harry was in total shock. He had not expected this kind of reaction from her. "Like I'd love a complete prat like you," Hermione proclaimed. She walked towards Harry and grabbed his right hand in her left. "I'm staying with Harry. You can leave if you want," Hermione said with great resolve. Harry stared at her in shock and relief. He never wanted her to leave, he just wanted her safe. Hermione just smiled at him and dragged him towards the tent. "Come on, Harry. It's cold, let's go inside. We can leave the prat here," she said. Harry smiled and followed her lead. As they were about to enter the tent, a jet of red light was the last thing Harry saw before everything went black.