[Second chapter; review as you please. Standard disclaimer, and please enjoy. =)]
The Battle of Hogwarts
(Friends with the Enemy.)
I arrived in the second group behind some older alumni, a few of whom I recognized. We were all being crammed into the Room of Requirements to await a duty. I saw that some were leaving the Room already, and I followed. Sitting idly would do nothing for my nerves.
The corridor was empty, but the hallways around it were not. I could hear the many students talking loudly, quietly to themselves but with so many the chatter was a low hum in my ears, as they were led to a destination. I blended in with them. The Great Hall came into view and I sat with the other Gryffindors. So strange to see them all again, most with battle scars already. I figured it must've been a hard year all around, in or out of the school.
Across the hall I saw the Slytherins, but more importantly, among them I noticed Katya. She picked at the dirt under her fingers, not at all bothered. Scandalous little thing she was; instead of getting dressed, like I'm sure she was instructed, she wore her silly silk night dress and her Hogwarts robe over it. Ridiculous. And yet, so her.
It was then Parkinson, that nasty cow, thought she'd be smart and speak. I rose along with the other's in my house and the Ravenclaws, and Hufflepuffs, to silence her. It was to my silent applause that she was escorted out first. By the time McGonagall had the girl pulled to the front I was rushing toward the Slytherin table, Katya in my view. She noticed me and perked a brow, hand on her hip.
"Trying to seduce a few scared little boys?" I approached calmly. We were still friends, no matter what. I was still dumb enough to believe that.
She glared at first, sizing me up. "If I am it would be only one more than you."
I huffed. "You're not counting the two I snuck in when I got here."
The both of us cackled.
"Where have you been all year?" She demanded. "It was no fun without you."
I shrugged, "Fighting the good fight."
Katya smirked, "Oh."
"And you?"
"Someone has to watch and humiliate your kind. Good fight, puh. It's more fun to point and laugh on the sidelines. You Gryffindors have far to much pride for your own good."
"And now? What of this? Your Headmaster is gone, I heard his two henchmen are out of commission as well. The Boy Who Lived is in the castle, and the Death Eaters are on their way. The Battle of Hogwarts is about to ensue, Katya. What do you chose now?"
She stared at me with the one perked eyebrow, the green of her eyes shimmering in the light, reflecting the danger within. "I'm staying."
My answering glare froze us both in eye-lock, "On what side?"
"I'm sure Potter doesn't need my help," Katya hissed at me.
"So you fight for the Death Eaters? You fight for Him."
"Yes, Halfblood. I do. When are you going to open your pretty blue eyes and see that there is no way one idiot seventeen year old is going to win against the most powerful dark wizard in history? The world is changing, wolf. Anyone going against the tide will wash away."
Damnit. I'd forgotten how much I'd trusted Katya. One slip of her evil tongue and I'd be outted to the Death Eaters. And then my mother's prediction might just as well come true. I convinced myself Remus Lupin's love child would draw no attention from Death Eaters seeking to kill Harry Potter. In all reality, the daughter of the American President of Magic would cause more of a hullaballoo. I sadly realized neither of the realities of my life gave me a great chance. "And when will you figure out that power holds nothing to love?"
"Don't start the bullshit, Slipton."
"Since no one has ever loved you, it's not surprising you don't respect its power. Just wait, Katya. We'll see who wins in the end. Your powerful leader has killed countless people, friends of mine, of my mothers. Yet you stand behind him, just as cowardly as Peter Pettigrew himself. Scared to get in his way, to challenge the authority. The cost might be your life, Katya, which you will lose someday, no matter which side you fight on. Under that self-righteous smirk there is all the fear in the world. You don't fool me."
"Scared? Puh. I am seventeen and beautiful, Slipton. No one can resist me." She flashed her body under the robe, her long black hair rolling on her shoulder. "Why would I fight to die when I don't care enough for the cause? I'd rather stand beside the centuries old tradition of being bad than suddenly going good."
"For me, Katya. Fight for me. Fight for whatever friendship there is between us."
The look in her eyes changed from a glare to a hard concentration. She was confused.
I put my hand palm up between us. "The rules say we're supposed to hate one another--"
"--I do hate you--"
"But we're friends. Best friends. I don't trust anyone as much as I trust you. If I didn't care about you I wouldn't be talking to you now. Wouldn't try to persuade you, either. This, this here, Katya. This bond we share is what Potter fights for. Not the cold bed you'll sleep in later, if He wins."
"It won't be cold, I'll always have company." Her eye sparked again. "I plan to marry, anyway. I need someone to work so I can spend the money."
"Cold, Katya, as in lonely."
"I need no one."
"Funny. You need me."
"Do not."
"Stop lying to me, Katya. Your words only work on someone who believes in them."
"You smartass daughter of a--"
"Katya."
We stared for one long moment as the chaos around us continued. Flitwick bustled passed us with an army of students behind him. On our other side the younger students were being escorted out. The noise was ceaseless, but I could hear the silence of a goodbye strong and clear in the space between myself and Katya. We both knew this moment would come, sooner or later. The circumstances of our friendship had always been, 'Don't say shit about my choice and I won't say shit about yours'. Those were her words, anyway. We existed in a peacefully ignorant space, void of life-choice. We were in-the-moment sort of people, and that had worked, until now. Until this moment had turned into the rest of our lives. This choice could be the last either of us made. I had no promise of tomorrow, nor did she. I didn't know if I would see her again.
In the castle I knew more conversations like ours were taking place among friends. Some would fight together, others would fight each other. Some would go home, others would be brave and stay. I felt, by morning, we would all have lost a friend.
She was the only one I had to loose.
"It's in my blood, Dawn." She sighed, "This is who I was born to be. Slytherin runs through my pure blood, what you call 'evil' is what I call 'home'. Your contaminated halfblood veins pump bravery, pride, 'good' through your system, as you were brought up to be. You knew and I knew one day this would happen."
"It doesn't have to Katya," I begged. "Don't do this to us."
"I'm not. Our families did it for us. Fate did it for us." She pressed her palm to mine. "Be strong, little wolf."
"Katya--"
"Dawn, if someone is going to kill me, do it first."
"Katya!"
"No, listen!" She grabbed my chin and held it still so that I would look at her. Her other hand never broke apart from mine. "I can't die to a Neville Longbottom, or a Ginny Weasley. I couldn't bare the humiliation of dying to a Luna Lovegood, or an Ernie Macmillian. I couldn't, damn those ugly mother--"
"Seriously, they wouldn't do that any--"
"Seriously!" She slapped me, not gently, but quickly, and held my chin once more. "You're the one who has to do it. You're my best friend. No one else, Dawn."
It was the first time she had ever said I was her best friend, though it didn't surprise me. Hearing it in words did, though. I couldn't help feel the tears brim in my eyes for the second time tonight.
"I could never utter the words with my wand pointed at you, Katya." I tried to keep my words from shaking. The thought of her face twisted with death was an awful image I banned immediately from my mind. "Because you're my best friend."
"Dawn Lily Gwendolyn Rosalie Evan Slipton," Her eyes closed and hardened as she said my full name. "You will kill me if you see it about to happen. Promise, damnit! I've never asked you for anything--"
"--Except Ryan Thompson's number--"
"--All I want is for you to kill me! As a dying wish!"
"No one is dying!" I yelled. "We're damn good duelers! There's no reason!"
"It's fucking DEATH EATERS AND STUDENTS, Dawn! EVERYONE is going to die! Some idiot will yell the Curse and miss! Accidents happen, things go wrong! This is a pointless battle anyway, and if I'm going to die you're going to kill me to spare my pride!"
Her shouted words scared many into looking at us. We didn't notice, we didn't care.
We held a long gaze as I soaked up her words and the truth in them. I struggled under her grip but she was just as strong as I was; we locked into an staggering position, holding to each other without breaking grasps.
"I'll-- I will!" I finally gave in.
"Promise, you halfblood, promise on your stupid life!"
"I do! I promise."
She released me. I stumbled back.
"You're so pathetic and weak." Katya dusted off her robes. "I thought it'd be harder to convince you. Of all the talk and teasing you do, you're soft inside after all."
"Because I love you, Katya." The tears spilled onto my cheeks now.
She blinked, "Excuse me?"
"I never had a sister, Katya. I never trusted anyone so close, I never had a friend who understood me so well. So many people in my life, Katya, but you would be the maid of honor at my wedding, the Godmother to my children! I trust you with my life! I love you, Katya."
"Ew, kids." She rolled her eyes. "Quit babbling like a soap opera star--"
Her voice choked off when my arms wrapped around her neck. "Blood is not thicker than water alone, but muddy water maybe. You fight with me because that's how you show affection."
Her arms slowly took hold of my middle. Soft at first, but then she was squeezing me back, and I felt moisture on the shoulder of my shirt. "I love you, too."
"If--if we die," I stammered, "I-..I w-w-want you to kn-know that."
"I wanted you to know, too." She giggled.
We backed away, but kept in each other's arms. I sighed. "This isn't goodbye."
"When my side wins I'll make sure to put in a good word for you," She teased, "You can be our pet."
"When Potter kicks ass I'll save you from Azkaban."
"Deal."
"Deal."
