Chapter 1:

Harry Potter was a very tired wizard. Being hunted by the most powerful dark lord and his minions does that to even the best in the trade. Add to this that he is just a sixteen year old, having 'celebrated' his birthday confined to his room without any food; he was not in the best of moods. After a painful fifth year at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry, being labeled a deranged individual and tortured at the hands of Dolores Umbridge, ministry employee and high inquisitor of Hogwarts; he was dumped in the hell on earth called his relatives house. The loss of Sirius Black, the closest person that he had to a family, his godfather felt as a hammer blow to his already tortured soul.

The summer has not been kind to him, repetitive nightmares of his godfather's death and visions of his friends, Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger being killed by Voldemort and his death eaters threatened his sanity. The few days of respite at the Burrow house of the Weasley family did nothing much to alleviate his suffering. The constant bickering of his two friends over things of no importance was a constant source of added pain to Harry.

With the revelation of the return of Voldemort to the land of the living, the same people who branded Harry a liar and an attention seeking brat started looking up to him as 'the chosen one' to rid the world of evil. Conveniently forgetting that he is only a 16 year old, people of importance in his life, Headmaster Albus Dumbledore or his Surrogate uncle Remus Lupin did not provide any means of comfort to his aching heart. Instead of a warm motherly embrace he was left smothered in the bear hug of the matronly Molly Weasley. The overpowering feeling of suffocation from all sides left him to find solace in the company of books, a feat which shocked Hermione, the resident bookworm of Gryffindor house.

"Harry!" exclaimed Hermione "If you had shown such an interest before our exams you would have scored much better on your O.".

Harry's own thoughts were not much different from Hermione's outburst. The result of his incessant ruminations at Number 4 Privet Drive during his solitary 'confinement' left Harry with the inevitable conclusion that he has to make serious efforts to study hard and learn to fight better. Not that Harry did badly on his exams; but the 'outstanding' on his potions O.W.L. required to get into the Auror program eluded him. Now he was left wondering why he even wanted to get into the Auror program. 'If I ever survive Voldemort would I want to keep looking over my shoulder in constant danger?' thought Harry.

"Hermione, leave the poor bloke alone. He has enough on his plate wondering about getting into the quidditch team without you bossing him about his studies. Besides he did not get such a lecture from Sirius why would he want one from you" Ron put in this two cents worth.

'insensitive git' thought Hermione 'why do I still put up with him? It's a wonder that I find myself falling for him.' She found herself gravitating towards her red-haired friend even though she harbored a huge crush on Harry right from the moment she laid her eyes on the raven haired wizard five years ago. This was an ongoing battle in her mind as to whom of her two friends, would be best suited as a boyfriend for her.

"Gee Thanks Ron. That makes me feel so much better" replied Harry before moving away from the duo. Ron's insensitive comments about his study habits or lack thereof, and the still painful remainder of his dead godfather, forced his feet to walk down the narrow path to the small pond on the edge of the Burrow's boundaries. Sitting there in the gathering dusk Harry contemplated his life so far and the near impossible task laid out by fate for him.

The blade of fate hanging on his neck was also one of the reasons for Harry's increased studiousness. Having spent most of his schooling goofing about and overcoming obstacles more by luck and Hermione's help than his own skill, Harry knew that he has to buckle down and get serious if he had to have a decent chance of surviving to his twentieth birthday.

He has not spoken of the dreaded prophecy with his friends yet. He feared that they would distance themselves from him. 'Who would be willing to associate themselves with a walking trouble magnet' thought Harry. Though he was afraid for their wellbeing, he was far more afraid of their rejection. He needed his friends, especially Hermione, who was a constant source of encouragement and help, not to mention the sole source of strength to him. Always ready to help him out either with such trivial matters as his homework to escaping dangers with his limbs intact, Hermione was his constant companion and best friend.

Being in the constant company of a smart, caring and a pretty girl has an effect on every teenage boy and Harry found himself slowly but surely falling for his best female friend. However, he knew that Hermione has feelings for his other friend Ron. Best friends do not encroach on the other's crushes, so Harry buried his feelings and did his best to act normal between the two and carried on as a supportive best friend should. Besides what guarantees does he have for a surviving the next battle with Voldemort and a secure life, 'none what so ever' sighed Harry.

'Tonight' Harry decided. 'Tonight I will tell them about the prophecy and then I will let them choose. I do not have a choice, but I owe them this much' with that thought Harry returned to the warmth of the Burrow and the smell of Molly's cooking.

Later that night in Ron's room Harry took the opportunity to tell his friends about the prophecy and gave them the opportunity to distance themselves from him if they so decide.

"Bloody hell mate! 'The chosen one', you will have all the girls clamoring for you. You can have the pick of the pretty ones, Lucky you." Like a knife plunging into his heart Ron's comment hurt Harry more than he imagined. Whatever he thought would be Ron's reaction to the prophecy this was not it.

Hermione was in tears but found a scathing comment to Ron's immature outburst.

"Ron don't be an idiot. We are talking about fighting You-know-who and you are worried about fan girls. We have to help Harry prepare for the fight and your childish behavior is not helping any one."

Ron though, was not placated "the prophecy clearly states that Harry will defeat him. Don't worry mate you will have all the help from Dumbledore I am sure. After all, the fate of the wizarding world is on your shoulders. Dumbledore must be crazy if he does not help you."

'Ugh!' Harry mentally screamed. 'Why do I put up with him? That git does not care that I can die. All he cares is about the fame and girls.' Through the years of his friendship with Ron, he allowed him to dictate terms and more often than not he found at the receiving end of his jealousy. The distractions of playing chess or discussing quidditch with Ron were a great source of entertainment and relaxation, but left him with mediocre results in his classwork. But now was the time for Harry to take a decision and step up to the plate if he has to survive the war. It was then that Harry decided to slowly distance himself from Ron, both for his own sanity as well as Ron's health. He was sure that he will not be able to rein in his temper around the redhead in his 'prat' mode.

His musings were interrupted by a crushing hug from Hermione. "Don't worry Harry. I will be there with you and help you in whatever way I can. Ron is right though; we will contact Dumbledore as soon as we get back to Hogwarts and ask for training help. We will be ready" proclaimed Hermione with conviction.

"Blimey! More work" was Ron's only comment.

"Thanks Hermione. Dumbledore mentioned that I will be taking extra lessons with him. Thought he did not mention what the lessons will be, I am sure they will be great help. I still need all the help I can get though. You can never be short on preparedness."

Silence reigned in the room with the trio occupied with their own thoughts. Two of the three were more interested in devising plans towards surviving the oncoming war they were sure to face, while the third were pleasantly occupied towards using the current knowledge to bag a 'cute chick'.

They were roused by the kitchen clock chiming a late hour and Hermione scrambled to get to the room she was sharing with Ginny. With a curt "good night guys" she was out of the room leaving the boys to sort out their sleeping accommodations.

"Wow! Imagine Harry all the girls tripping over themselves to get to know us. We can have the pick of all Hogwarts." With that parting comment Ron snores drowned the quite of the burrow.

The remaining days till school were filled with studies and occasional games of pick up quidditch with the inhabitants of the burrow for Harry. The only though that Hermione could spare for Harry was 'Poor Harry he has had to grow up fast'. But, as promised, Hermione took time to help Harry with his studies learning about advanced dueling techniques and spells that can help in a battle. Harry was grateful for her help but could not help look with a stab of pain when he observed Hermione mooning over Ron and getting to a point where she was almost ready to throw herself at his feet in order to get him to notice her. Ron oblivious of Hermione's feelings continued to make snide comments about her study habits and things important to her.

Harry could not stop wondering about the subtle efforts of Hermione to garner Ron's attention. For a very bright witch she had her own insecurities which were of no help in deciding on a boyfriend. The constant bickering between the two was also providing comic relief to the Weasley twins and they did their best to encourage such confrontations.

As the days neared September, the excitement of school reached a feverish pitch for Hermione and her desire to spend more time with Ron meant that she was slowly waning on her promise to help Harry with his studies. Harry's resolution to keep away from Ron also increased this distance with the only time he was able to spend with Hermione was either eating or studying. Harry was disheartened by Hermione's behavior but kept his feelings to himself and tried to slowly distance himself from both Ron and Hermione, hoping for the best for his two friends even though it may give him pain.

'How can she tolerate such a behavior from Ron? Even being the smartest witch of the generation did not prevent her from falling for a moron' such thoughts were Harry's constant companions during the remaining days of August.

The thought of 'I guess love surely is blind' was his only consolation.