Just Walk Away

The Path To Freedom

Hello everybody,

So sorry that it took me so long to update. I was moving and work was a little crazy the last couple months. Thank you so much for your patience and I will trying to update quicker. Until then, here is an extra long chapter.

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Friday morning began cloudy and dreary with clear evidence of an approaching storm. Harry sarcastically felt that it fit his mood rather well. However despite his nervousness there was also a sense of excitement. This thing was almost over and then he would be free.

Mrs. Weasley had insisted that Harry stay with them for the night to give them more time with him. It wasn't very hard for Harry to accept. The next morning after breakfast and some teary good-bye's Harry and Hermione left for the ministry. Harry knew that they were a couple of hours early but he wanted to be able to lead his team down to the courtrooms with plenty of time to explain to them how things were going to work. Besides he would also have to escort the Prime Minister and his small team when they arrived. Luckily they were able to use the Weasley's floo to go directly to the atrium.

Stepping out of the fireplace, Harry gently brushed the soot off of his jacket as Hermione did the same as she came out behind him.

The atrium was surprisingly empty. Harry remembered that Mr. Weasley had said something about shutting down a lot of things today to prepare for the wizengoment session.

"Where is everybody?" Hermione asked looking around the atrium.

"Getting ready for the meeting I would assume..." Harry replied, "I'm not going to complain though. This means less staring."

Just then, the fireplace that they came out of flared up. Stepping away quickly, they watched as Susan Bones and then almost immediately after Neville Longbottom stepped out.

"Hey there Harry...Hermione. Are we late?" Neville asked when he saw them there.

Harry smiled, "No, you're actually early. Hermione and I just got here."

Neville smiled at the brown-haired girl. "Welcome to the team Hermione."

"Thanks Neville." Her smile turned to a frown. "Harry I thought that you said that there were going to be four of us..." She trailed off leaving her question unsaid.

Harry tried not to wince "Uh...there is four of you but he is actually going to meet us down there. In fact he is probably already there so we should go."

With that he began walking away toward the lifts to take them down to the court rooms.

Hermione's frown deepened they followed. She turned to pair walking next to her, "Do you know who the last one is."

They both shook their head as Neville answered, "No idea, but you know Harry. He got more and more cryptic after hanging out with Dumbledore for a year. That has yet to change."

"I get the feeling though that he isn't being mysterious just because he can. It's like he's hesitating because he knows that we won't like it." Susan said with a frown of her own marring her pretty features.

"Or he is just trying to wind you two up." Neville responded with a chuckle

Hermione shook her head, "That's not like him especially lately. Why wouldn't he tell us...?"

"I guess the real question is this;" Harry's voice interrupted their thoughts causing them to stop. It was then that they realized that they had followed him into the lift. "Do you trust me?"