Harry pressed his nose against the misted window of the Hogwarts Express, scowling. How had he ever landed in this predicament? Mrs. Weasley had forced him to go back to Hogwarts and complete his schooling, while all he wanted to do was find the remaining horcruxes and destroy them.
Around Harry sat Neville, Luna, Ginny, and, of course, Ron and Hermione. Hermione looked worried, although she knew that Hogwarts, the safest place in the world, was their destination. But how safe was Hogwarts anymore? With Dumbledore gone, Voldemort would have a clear path. Harry and his knowledge of horcruxes was the only obstacle, and try as Hermione might, she could not rid herslef of the feeling that this obstacle might be surprisingly easy to get rid of.
The lunch trolley passed their carriage. Ginny stopped it and bought some Cauldron Cakes in a hushed voice. She passed them around, and put her hand on Harry's shoulder.
"Harry," she said, "Mum might have been right about you going back to school. I mean, Voldemort is really powerful. Maybe another year of Defense Against the Dark Arts will help you."
"No," replied Harry through gritted teeth "While I'm at school hundreds of people will be dying, and there I will be, able to stop it all. I just can't-" he broke off, and a slow tear rolled down his cheek. "I can't let them all die."
"Harry, this isn't your fault!" reassured Hermione "No one has been able to stop Voldemort before. Just don't go feeling all guilty for deaths that you have no control over."
"I haven't had control over deaths for sixteen years, but now I am offered the chance to prevent them. What would you do, Hermione?"
"Come on, mate, you can't just go running off killing Death Eaters. They're full grown wizards. They took their N.E.W.T.s. You have to be prepared for what you're facing. I know you can control the Imperius curse, but what if they catch you off guard? And you can't say they'll hesitate to kill you!"
Ron's words hung in the air for a moment, and they all knew he had said the wrong thing. Hermione gave Ron a pleading look and returned her gaze to Harry.
"Oh, look," came Luna's dreamy voice. "don't worry. Your horoscope in The Quibbler says 'you need to learn more about your inner self before embarking on any dangerous or important journeys, physically or mentally' You're a Capricorn, right?"
Harry smiled sadly at Luna's words, but did not speak. He took the Cauldron Cake Ginny offered him with a nod of thanks, and returned his gaze to the window, where he saw a familiar, and for the first time, unwelcome, sight.
"Hogwarts," he sighed.
