Finding the Lost Diadem - 4

"But the leader has to know how to use the best abilities of all his people in order to win. That's strategy," Ron said, moving to stand next to Hermione. Ginny joined the two as they all stood facing Harry.

"What are you planning?" he asked warily, not certain he liked the sound of this at all.

"Don't worry about it, Harry. Just trust us. You go ahead and save the rest of the world — let us save you," Hermione said, her eyes filling.

Harry's throat grew very tight, and he suddenly had the strong urge to run from the room. He forced himself to remain still and face them. "I don't think you can," he whispered.

Taking a deep breath, he decided on the spot that they at least deserved the truth about what he planned to do. "It has to be done at the same time — that's why I think the final battle should take place at the Department of Mysteries. I can use the Veil where Sirius…that Sirius went through." He cleared his throat uncomfortably, battling with himself to keep eye contact.

"How do you plan to get Voldemort there?" Ron asked, rubbing his chin, his ears turning bright red — the only indication of his discomfort.

"How hard can it be? He used my own mind to find me when we were at the Riddle House. I don't see why I can't make that work if I just open my mind to him," Harry replied, shrugging.

"It might work," Hermione said, and Harry had the uncomfortable feeling there was something she wasn't telling him.

"It still doesn't explain what you're planning, Harry," Ginny said, fear evident in her eyes.

He didn't want to hurt her, but he had to come to accept that she'd be hurt no matter what he did. Taking her hands in his own and swallowing against a painful obstruction in his throat, he whispered, "We'd both have to go through together."

"No!" his friends all cried in unison.

"It's the only way," Harry snarled, blinking back tears of his own. He didn't want to think about this. He wanted to run and hide from it until after he'd found the last Horcrux. He didn't want them to make him deal with it now.

"Harry!" Ginny said, shaking her head as tears began sliding down her cheeks.

"I want you all to have the chance to live! If I have to, I would die for you, Ginny," he said, his voice cracking slightly.

"I know, but that's not going to happen — not if I can help it," Ginny said, viciously swiping her eyes and raising her chin in defiance.

"This is the trust part, Harry. You continue working on your plans for Voldemort and let me continue with our plans. You just need to prepare yourself to trust us when the moment arrives," Hermione said, wiping away her own tears.

"I'll try. I'm going to see if Mad-Eye had any luck capturing those Death Eaters," he replied. The desperate need to get away finally won out, and he nearly sprinted from them. He had to clear his head and think.

He left them in the hospital wing but stopped outside the door and rested his head against the wall, needing to collect himself. What were they planning, and how much danger would it put them all in? He couldn't allow them to be hurt. He couldn't.

Hermione's raised voice, heavily choked with tears drifted out to him in the corridor.

"We have to try! I don't care if my only job turns out to be reminding Harry that he's not alone in this world. If that's what it takes, that's what I'm going to do."