Chapter Eight: What Now?
Ashlyn looked over at Harry, wide-eyed. Luna? Missing? How could that have happened? Harry stared up at McGonagall, wishing it was just a sick, cruel joke. But he saw her serious face and knew it was the truth. He looked down at Ashlyn.
"What now, Harry? What are we going to do?" she was scared, he could see it in her eyes.
He swallowed hard, "We get ready. We're leaving as soon as possible. We need to talk to McGonagall right after dinner."
She nodded, and looked back down at her plate, full of food. She was no longer hungry; her only friend, after Harry, was Luna and now she was gone. Missing. Did that mean she was dead? Or did it mean she had run away? Maybe she was taken. Ashlyn had no idea, and she was terrified, she knew what her father was capable of, maybe he was interrogating Luna about Ashlyn. Maybe he was trying to see how and what Ashlyn was doing. Harry was right. They needed to leave as soon as possible.
Harry and Ashlyn were standing outside the door to the headmistress' office, getting ready to knock, but calming themselves before they did. Harry looked at Ashlyn, smiled reassuringly and then he knocked.
"Come in!" rang out McGonagall's voice.
Harry and Ashlyn slowly walked into the office. It looked a lot like it did when Harry had last been in here right after Dumbledore's death. The only difference was there were a lot more books in there now. McGonagall looked up at the two, shocked.
"How may I help you, Mr. Potter? Miss Richardson?" she asked, setting down a paper she had been examining.
"Professor, you know how I told you I would only come back if I could leave when I heard anything out of the ordinary?"
"Yes, Mr. Potter, but a student missing is not necessarily an act of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named."
"No, it may not be, Professor, but it is a sign. Things are getting out of control, and I need to go finish some business. But, there is one slight change of plans. I need Ashlyn to come with me."
"I do not understand, Potter. I would think Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger would be your first choice."
"Professor, they are not speaking to me at the moment. But that does not matter. Ashlyn needs to come. It is absolutely necessary."
"But, Potter, what does Miss Richardson have to do with your mission?"
"Everything. I can not do this without her."
McGonagall nodded, "Ok, Potter, when do you plan to leave?"
"A few days, no longer than that. We need time to get ready and get prepared, so we are going to need to be able to miss classes during the next few days."
"Alright. You will come to my office when you are ready, I will give you transportation. The Floo Network is being watched, so that is out of the question. You could, of course, use brooms."
Harry shook his head, "We'll Apparate. It's the safest way."
"But, Miss Richardson has not yet learned how to-"
"I know how." Ashlyn spoke up at last, "It's a long story, but I know how. And Harry's right, it is the safest way."
McGonagall nodded, "Alright, it sounds like you two have thought of everything. Please come to me if you ever need anything. I wish you both luck."
"Thank you, Professor. We will." Harry said, smiling at her.
"Thank you, Professor," Ashlyn added, trying to smile bravely.
The two left the room and hurried away to the common room. But before they went in Ashlyn grabbed Harry's arm, stopping him. She looked worried.
"Harry. We're going to have to let my father know."
"What?! Why would we do that?"
"So you can destroy him right after we destroy the Horcruxes. Believe me, you're going to want to when we're done."
"What do you mean?"
"Harry, trust me. It will be easier to just get it all done at once. I will give him a time and we'll go earlier than that time. We'll destroy the Horcruxes, then wait for him to come, and you will destroy him and Nagini, she will be with him, I'm sure. Please Harry, trust me."
Harry didn't like it, he didn't want to have to face Voldemort yet, but he knew he had to. And if he waited any longer, more people could go missing, or worse, die. He nodded, "Alright, but don't contact him yet, we need to figure out when we will be going. Then you will need to send it the day before, so he will have enough time to get it and to come."
Ashlyn nodded; "Harry, it's all going to work out, right?" she stepped in closer to him.
"Yes, of course it will. We just have to plan it right." He looked down at her and stepped closer to her, their faces inches apart. He smiled at her and she smiled up at him. Their faces moved closer and their lips met halfway. It was a soft, gentle kiss, and it made the two of them feel like their plan just might work.
At the thought of their plan, though, Ashlyn broke away from the kiss and ran into the common room, leaving Harry alone and confused. He seemed to be left confused a lot lately.
Harry went up to his dorm and he saw Ron waiting up for him. He was surprised, because Ron had not spoken to him all day, that he would wait up for him. Harry looked over at him and raised one eyebrow. Ron narrowed his eyes and glared at Harry.
"Ron? What's going on?"
Ron scoffed, "You were out with her again. You left dinner together. It took you guys a while to come back. Where did you go?"
Harry was now very annoyed with Ron and had no desire to talk to him, "I don't think that's any of your business. I can go out with anyone I want and do what I please."
Ron's eyes narrowed even more, if that was possible, "I don't get it, Potter. I just don't get it. You say you love her. You say you're protecting her. And now, you're going off with some other girl and that's hurting her much worse than any physical pain could. I know, I've seen it in her eyes. She's just so upset all the time. She's not usually the one that gives into pain. She gets over physical pain very quick. But this, Harry, this is breaking her heart."
Harry looked over at his bed, trying to escape Ron's glare, he felt a pit in the bottom of his stomach and he hated what he was doing to her, but he had no idea what to do, "Ron, I don't know what exactly is going on right now. I'm confused myself. So, if you're looking for answers, I don't have them. But I'm leaving in a few days. I'm leaving to get things done and hopefully when I come back this war will be over. Either that or I'll be dead."
Ron's eyes grew wide, and his facial expression softened, "Harry, I thought Hermione and I were coming with you?"
"Well, you two weren't talking to me, and I didn't think you two wanted to go." Harry was now pulling on his pajamas as he spoke.
"So, you're going alone?"
"No. I'm not."
"Who's going with you then?"
Harry sighed. He climbed into his bed and looked at Ron, "Ashlyn is."
Ron looked about to beat him with a bludger's bat, "Ashlyn? Ashlyn is going with you on your mission? I thought Hermione and I were the only one's you told? I thought you weren't going to tell anyone else?"
"I didn't tell her! But bringing her is the only way this can work. I need her to come! Without her I wouldn't even be half as close as I am right now."
"How does she know then, if you didn't tell her?"
"It's a long story, Ron; I'll explain when we get back. If we get back."
Ron's face paled, "You don't think you're going to- you know-"
"I just might, it's very likely."
"Why are you doing this now? Why don't you wait until you're-"
"Until I'm what? Smarter? Stronger? I could always make excuses saying there's something that I could improve, while all along innocent people are being tortured and killed. I need to do this. And I need to do it soon."
"But, Harry, I want to come. I told you I would. I promised. Hermione will want to as well."
"Ron, you both hate Ashlyn."
"We don't hate her, Harry, we just don't like how you're hurting Ginny for her."
"I know. But, it's just going to have to be me and her. You two could get killed, and I couldn't live with that."
"Harry, we knew all long that there was a chance that might happen. We told you we would anyway. Remember?"
"I know Ron, but things are different now. I would like you both to come too, but I just can't put you in that situation."
Ron looked at Harry, sadness in his eyes, "Alright, Harry. And about today, I'm sorry I was such a jerk. It's just, she's my sister. And sometimes the older brother in me overrules the best friend in me."
Harry chuckled, "I know. And things will get better, I promise. I just need to get this done."
Ron nodded, "Night, Harry."
"Night, Ron." Harry lay down on his bed and he suddenly felt this wave of sadness. Ron was the first friend he had ever made. Not just at Hogwarts, but ever. And Hermione was a close second. He wished they could come, he wanted them with him. But he knew it needed to be just him and Ashlyn. He wouldn't be able to live with himself if he survived and one or both of them didn't. Of course, there was a chance Voldemort might kill Ashlyn, but why would he kill the daughter that supposedly brought him his enemy? He closed his eyes and rolled over. A few days from now suddenly seemed like a very short amount of time.
