Harry was quiet for a long minute, his eyes with a faraway look as both his friends stared at him. "I—I —" He paused, his eyes shifting to meet Hermione’s, his hand reaching out for hers. "They didn’t help us — you know? There was the Order and the Aurors and just so many people, but when it came down to it—it was just us. That’s not to say they didn’t help us at all—of course I’m not saying that. I’m just saying in the face of another power like Riddle... the ministry will fall again. There are too many cracks in the system, too many allowances for how things