A/N: Well, I'm back! Sorry it took so long. Well here's the bad news. I'll
be gone for a month, with no internet! I'm leaving tomorrow...and I should be
packing ...but I decided it would just be evil to leave you with that
cliffy! Keep in mind, I'll have my computer with me, and I'll write new
chapters while I'm away, so when I come back, I should have a few ready for
ya!
This chapter is dedicated to Rebecca, for her wonderful compliment on her review. Thanks so much!
Now, with out any further ado...here is what you've all been waiting for –cough-...
Pure
Chapter 14: Living a Lie
----
Harry stopped breathing.
No, no, he couldn't be dead. The Death Eater...the Death Eater was dead.
Harry lowered his wand.
He had found it, buried in his pocket, and whipped it out in time to yell the horrible words at the Death Eater. But Draco...
Harry watched as Draco slowly pulled himself up, and crawled over to the wall, shaking. His eyes roamed over the dead Death Eater, and then he buried his head in his hands, and pulled his knees tightly to his chest. He did not wonder who had killed the Death Eater, or why the Death Eater had come after him. He was in a state of shock.
That state ended, however, when Harry came over.
Harry knelt down next to Draco, and wrapped his arms around him. Draco immediately tensed, and brought his eyes up, meeting Harry's.
And then he began to sob.
His body fell into Harry's arms, his head on Harry's shoulder. He sobbed into Harry, and Harry held him.
"I-" Draco whispered, his words muffled by his sobs and Harry's shirt, "I thought y-you were going t-to die."
And it was then that Harry realized that Draco was not crying because he had almost died, nor was he crying because he was afraid.
He was crying because Harry was alive.
"I was s-so scared." He whispered, and Harry tightened his grip around him. "I didn't want you to d-die..."
Crystal tears continued to pour out of Draco's silver eyes, and landed on Harry's shoulder.
"It's okay." Harry whispered, into his hair, "It's all okay. I'm okay."
Draco brought his head back up, and met Harry's eyes. Draco's normally pale face was flushed, his cheeks tear-stained. His upper lip was trembling, and his golden hair had fallen into his eyes.
His eyes.
There was so much emotion in them. Pain, relief, sadness, joy. Harry felt himself being drawn into him, drawn into the emotion, drawn away from his own horrible life.
"You saved me." Draco whispered.
Harry looked at the fallen Death Eater. "Well..."
"No." Draco shook his head. "Before. You jumped in front of me. You could have died. B-but you risked your life for me. Why?"
Harry's mouth opened, but nothing came out. He knew why. Because he loved him. But he would not say that. No...
"I-" Harry began, jerkily, but was cut off.
"Mr. Potter!" A shriek shrill came from the hallway, and Harry turned.
Professor McGonagall was in front, followed closely by Snape, then Ron, then a flushed Hermione, and finally a huffing Madame Pomphrey.
They all skidded to a stop when they saw Harry, his arms around a very disgruntled Draco Malfoy. Before they could say anything, however, there was another shriek, this one belonging to Madame Pomphrey.
She was pointing at the Death Eater.
"Somebody had better go get Dumbledore." Ron muttered.
----
Professor Dumbledore arrived on the scene a few minutes later, with Professor McGonagall trailing after him.
Draco and Harry now stood, side by side, standing over the Death Eater.
"Mr. Potter!" Dumbledore, exclaimed, delightedly, when he saw Harry,"You're awake!"
Harry nodded slowly, but said nothing, as Dumbledore was making his way to the Death Eater.
"Headmaster," Hermione inquired, "how could a Death Eater get into the castle? Surely..."
But she was cut off by Dumbledore's hand wave.
"Like this." Dumbledore said, quietly, and pulled off the hood.
Parvati.
Hermione let out a shriek, and quickly covered her mouth with her hands. "A...spy?" She whispered, and Dumbledore nodded.
Hermione turned to Harry. "Harry...how did you know the Death Eater would be here?"
Harry felt the resentment that he held for Hermione grow. How would he explain this one? Luckily, Dumbledore cut in.
"Ah...It has been a very trying day. For all of us. And Mr. Potter needs to get back to the hospital wing. There will be a time for asking questions, but now is not it." He said. But, as they were walking back, Harry caught the twinkle in Dumbledore's eyes. This would not be the end of it.
----
It was later in the day. Most people had come and gone, and now Harry sat up in his bed, idling gazing into space.
He could still feel Draco in his arms, his hot breath against Harry's neck. As soon as he had been brought back to the Hospital Wing, he had begun regretting the way he comforted Draco. Did Draco suspect something?
No. Of course not. Why would he?
It was very hard to convince himself of this, however, especially when he could feel Draco's tears rolling down onto his shoulder.
Harry shook his head. He should sleep. He had been told to sleep. He found it very hard to rest, as he had been "resting" for the last two weeks.
He heard the door open, and turned quickly.
Hermione.
Oh, perfect.
She walked over to his bed, and, before Harry could say anything, began to talk.
"Listen, Harry," She said, promptly, and Harry felt hatred bubble in the pit of his stomach. Didn't she remember anything? "I feel it is my duty to tell you what has been going on while you were...away. The Death Eaters left, but they came back yesterday, and there are more of them. They're well prepared, and ready to launch an attack. Luckily for us, some hope has been restored, now that you're awake. So here's what you need to do. You must make a speech, telling everyone-" She caught the look on his face. "I know its hard Harry, but you are the savior."
"No, Hermione," He whispered, "you don't know. And I'm not their bloody savior!"
"Harry-" She began, but he cut her off quickly.
"Don't you get it? I'm not any of those things that they want me to be, that they think I am! Maybe I was, once, but I'm not anymore! Don't you understand? People see what they want to see. What they choose to see. They can choose to see me as a boy, burdened with the sake of the world, a boy alone, a boy so lost in his own darkness, he can't tell which was is up, or," he said, lowering his tone, "they can chose to see me as the savior. The one that will always be there for them, no matter what. And they chose to see the latter. But it is the first that is true.
"Don't you understand, Hermione?" He asked, his voice burning with hatred and pain, "This, all of this, is a lie. Nothing is real anymore, nothing is true. They see whatever the hell they want to see! And they can't fucking see me, Hermione. They can't. Fucking. See. Me."
He brought his burning, anger filled eyes to her surprised brown ones, and whispered, "You can't see me."
He kept his eyes with hers, watching as they slowly filled with unshed tears.
"No one can. And I'll deal with that in my own way. And if this-" He pushed back his sleeve, showing her the scars, "is my own way, then just bloody let it be! But don't tell me I'm their savior. And don't tell me what's expected off me. I'll deal with this war, and this pain, in my own way. Now get out, of my room.
"You can't see me, Hermione, but I can see you. And I don't want to."
Harry watched as Hermione turned and fled from his room. A tear ran down his face as her footsteps grew fainter, but he whipped it away. Caring was a weakness.
Then, for the second time that day, he stormed out of the room, but this time he ran to his dormitory. That was it.
He wasn't hiding any longer.
He was done with this mask.
----
A/n: well, Harry's pissed. MUAHAHA! No more mask = sure chaos! Lol! Thanks to all who reviewed:
Emeline- Lol, no he's not dead just wanted everyone to think he couldn't find his wand, when it was actually him who sent the spell. MUAHAHAHAHA! Lol! I bet you don't suck!!! I know I'm so excited! I never thought I'd have so many!
PeachDancer82- -Checks heart- Well, steady beat! Whew! Don't worry, he's not dead muahaha! Hope you liked it!
Rebecca- lol, I loved your review that is the most wonderful compliment I have ever received! ((And if it wasn't supposed to be a compliment, I am taking it as one, lol)) I hope you liked the chapter dedicated to you!
Dea puella- Lol, you'll get it, I swear! It's just taking a while! -cowers in fear- He's alive! HE'S ALIVE! Don't hurt me!
Pip3- MUAHAHA! Don't worry! Hope you liked it!
p0l- Lolol, I know I know. Hope you liked it! The story won't be ending too soon, lol...
Mistik-elf13- Lol, I cracked up on your review! Don't worry, he's not fucking dead! Lol, I'm not that good, I'm sure you're even better. In fact...-goes off to find stories by you-
Shadowed Rains- LOL sorry it took so long, hope you liked it!
Son of twilight- AHHHHHH!!! HES ALIVE!!!! DON'T DO IT! IF YOU KILL ME YOULL NEVER KNOW WHAT HAPPENS!! –Runs away in fear-
Tara Potter101- Lol, thank you, hope you liked this chapter!
silver115- Don't worry, he's not dead! Hope you liked this one!
Crystalstorm21- -sob- oh wait, he's not dead.
Trevor the Jumping Frog- He's okay! Don't worry! Hope you liked it!
HedwigPig- Thank you so much! Hope this chapter was good!
Riley Riddle- AHHHH!!! THE FLOBBER WORMS! HES ALIVE!! BACK DOWN!!! –Inches slowly away from flobber worms-
Sweetfrv- Lol, don't worry, he's still alive!
Elebereth- no kidding, Harry would defiantly loose it! Lol!
Labpotter- Lol, I loved your review! AHHH not the evil monster!!! –Pokes evil monster- MUAHAHA...wait...AHHH!!!!! –Backs away from evil monster-
SarkLover- LOL, yep, Harry was freaking out, running through the halls, with 5 people trailing behind him! In his bed clothes! Lol!!
Hiei's fiancee- Not a teacher, but close! Hope you liked this chapter!
Elven Warrior1- Not yet, hmm? Can I kill him LATER then? Lol, jk. Don't worry; I would never do that to Harry! -Evil eyes-
MyGildedCage- Lol, yes I have a habit for writing short chapters, sorry! Hope you liked this one, though!
Marblez- MUAHAHAHAHAHA! hope you liked this one!
----
To them and everyone else, please review! Sorry I'll be gone for so long, I promise you lots of chapters, updated quickly, when I return!
This chapter is dedicated to Rebecca, for her wonderful compliment on her review. Thanks so much!
Now, with out any further ado...here is what you've all been waiting for –cough-...
Pure
Chapter 14: Living a Lie
----
Harry stopped breathing.
No, no, he couldn't be dead. The Death Eater...the Death Eater was dead.
Harry lowered his wand.
He had found it, buried in his pocket, and whipped it out in time to yell the horrible words at the Death Eater. But Draco...
Harry watched as Draco slowly pulled himself up, and crawled over to the wall, shaking. His eyes roamed over the dead Death Eater, and then he buried his head in his hands, and pulled his knees tightly to his chest. He did not wonder who had killed the Death Eater, or why the Death Eater had come after him. He was in a state of shock.
That state ended, however, when Harry came over.
Harry knelt down next to Draco, and wrapped his arms around him. Draco immediately tensed, and brought his eyes up, meeting Harry's.
And then he began to sob.
His body fell into Harry's arms, his head on Harry's shoulder. He sobbed into Harry, and Harry held him.
"I-" Draco whispered, his words muffled by his sobs and Harry's shirt, "I thought y-you were going t-to die."
And it was then that Harry realized that Draco was not crying because he had almost died, nor was he crying because he was afraid.
He was crying because Harry was alive.
"I was s-so scared." He whispered, and Harry tightened his grip around him. "I didn't want you to d-die..."
Crystal tears continued to pour out of Draco's silver eyes, and landed on Harry's shoulder.
"It's okay." Harry whispered, into his hair, "It's all okay. I'm okay."
Draco brought his head back up, and met Harry's eyes. Draco's normally pale face was flushed, his cheeks tear-stained. His upper lip was trembling, and his golden hair had fallen into his eyes.
His eyes.
There was so much emotion in them. Pain, relief, sadness, joy. Harry felt himself being drawn into him, drawn into the emotion, drawn away from his own horrible life.
"You saved me." Draco whispered.
Harry looked at the fallen Death Eater. "Well..."
"No." Draco shook his head. "Before. You jumped in front of me. You could have died. B-but you risked your life for me. Why?"
Harry's mouth opened, but nothing came out. He knew why. Because he loved him. But he would not say that. No...
"I-" Harry began, jerkily, but was cut off.
"Mr. Potter!" A shriek shrill came from the hallway, and Harry turned.
Professor McGonagall was in front, followed closely by Snape, then Ron, then a flushed Hermione, and finally a huffing Madame Pomphrey.
They all skidded to a stop when they saw Harry, his arms around a very disgruntled Draco Malfoy. Before they could say anything, however, there was another shriek, this one belonging to Madame Pomphrey.
She was pointing at the Death Eater.
"Somebody had better go get Dumbledore." Ron muttered.
----
Professor Dumbledore arrived on the scene a few minutes later, with Professor McGonagall trailing after him.
Draco and Harry now stood, side by side, standing over the Death Eater.
"Mr. Potter!" Dumbledore, exclaimed, delightedly, when he saw Harry,"You're awake!"
Harry nodded slowly, but said nothing, as Dumbledore was making his way to the Death Eater.
"Headmaster," Hermione inquired, "how could a Death Eater get into the castle? Surely..."
But she was cut off by Dumbledore's hand wave.
"Like this." Dumbledore said, quietly, and pulled off the hood.
Parvati.
Hermione let out a shriek, and quickly covered her mouth with her hands. "A...spy?" She whispered, and Dumbledore nodded.
Hermione turned to Harry. "Harry...how did you know the Death Eater would be here?"
Harry felt the resentment that he held for Hermione grow. How would he explain this one? Luckily, Dumbledore cut in.
"Ah...It has been a very trying day. For all of us. And Mr. Potter needs to get back to the hospital wing. There will be a time for asking questions, but now is not it." He said. But, as they were walking back, Harry caught the twinkle in Dumbledore's eyes. This would not be the end of it.
----
It was later in the day. Most people had come and gone, and now Harry sat up in his bed, idling gazing into space.
He could still feel Draco in his arms, his hot breath against Harry's neck. As soon as he had been brought back to the Hospital Wing, he had begun regretting the way he comforted Draco. Did Draco suspect something?
No. Of course not. Why would he?
It was very hard to convince himself of this, however, especially when he could feel Draco's tears rolling down onto his shoulder.
Harry shook his head. He should sleep. He had been told to sleep. He found it very hard to rest, as he had been "resting" for the last two weeks.
He heard the door open, and turned quickly.
Hermione.
Oh, perfect.
She walked over to his bed, and, before Harry could say anything, began to talk.
"Listen, Harry," She said, promptly, and Harry felt hatred bubble in the pit of his stomach. Didn't she remember anything? "I feel it is my duty to tell you what has been going on while you were...away. The Death Eaters left, but they came back yesterday, and there are more of them. They're well prepared, and ready to launch an attack. Luckily for us, some hope has been restored, now that you're awake. So here's what you need to do. You must make a speech, telling everyone-" She caught the look on his face. "I know its hard Harry, but you are the savior."
"No, Hermione," He whispered, "you don't know. And I'm not their bloody savior!"
"Harry-" She began, but he cut her off quickly.
"Don't you get it? I'm not any of those things that they want me to be, that they think I am! Maybe I was, once, but I'm not anymore! Don't you understand? People see what they want to see. What they choose to see. They can choose to see me as a boy, burdened with the sake of the world, a boy alone, a boy so lost in his own darkness, he can't tell which was is up, or," he said, lowering his tone, "they can chose to see me as the savior. The one that will always be there for them, no matter what. And they chose to see the latter. But it is the first that is true.
"Don't you understand, Hermione?" He asked, his voice burning with hatred and pain, "This, all of this, is a lie. Nothing is real anymore, nothing is true. They see whatever the hell they want to see! And they can't fucking see me, Hermione. They can't. Fucking. See. Me."
He brought his burning, anger filled eyes to her surprised brown ones, and whispered, "You can't see me."
He kept his eyes with hers, watching as they slowly filled with unshed tears.
"No one can. And I'll deal with that in my own way. And if this-" He pushed back his sleeve, showing her the scars, "is my own way, then just bloody let it be! But don't tell me I'm their savior. And don't tell me what's expected off me. I'll deal with this war, and this pain, in my own way. Now get out, of my room.
"You can't see me, Hermione, but I can see you. And I don't want to."
Harry watched as Hermione turned and fled from his room. A tear ran down his face as her footsteps grew fainter, but he whipped it away. Caring was a weakness.
Then, for the second time that day, he stormed out of the room, but this time he ran to his dormitory. That was it.
He wasn't hiding any longer.
He was done with this mask.
----
A/n: well, Harry's pissed. MUAHAHA! No more mask = sure chaos! Lol! Thanks to all who reviewed:
Emeline- Lol, no he's not dead just wanted everyone to think he couldn't find his wand, when it was actually him who sent the spell. MUAHAHAHAHA! Lol! I bet you don't suck!!! I know I'm so excited! I never thought I'd have so many!
PeachDancer82- -Checks heart- Well, steady beat! Whew! Don't worry, he's not dead muahaha! Hope you liked it!
Rebecca- lol, I loved your review that is the most wonderful compliment I have ever received! ((And if it wasn't supposed to be a compliment, I am taking it as one, lol)) I hope you liked the chapter dedicated to you!
Dea puella- Lol, you'll get it, I swear! It's just taking a while! -cowers in fear- He's alive! HE'S ALIVE! Don't hurt me!
Pip3- MUAHAHA! Don't worry! Hope you liked it!
p0l- Lolol, I know I know. Hope you liked it! The story won't be ending too soon, lol...
Mistik-elf13- Lol, I cracked up on your review! Don't worry, he's not fucking dead! Lol, I'm not that good, I'm sure you're even better. In fact...-goes off to find stories by you-
Shadowed Rains- LOL sorry it took so long, hope you liked it!
Son of twilight- AHHHHHH!!! HES ALIVE!!!! DON'T DO IT! IF YOU KILL ME YOULL NEVER KNOW WHAT HAPPENS!! –Runs away in fear-
Tara Potter101- Lol, thank you, hope you liked this chapter!
silver115- Don't worry, he's not dead! Hope you liked this one!
Crystalstorm21- -sob- oh wait, he's not dead.
Trevor the Jumping Frog- He's okay! Don't worry! Hope you liked it!
HedwigPig- Thank you so much! Hope this chapter was good!
Riley Riddle- AHHHH!!! THE FLOBBER WORMS! HES ALIVE!! BACK DOWN!!! –Inches slowly away from flobber worms-
Sweetfrv- Lol, don't worry, he's still alive!
Elebereth- no kidding, Harry would defiantly loose it! Lol!
Labpotter- Lol, I loved your review! AHHH not the evil monster!!! –Pokes evil monster- MUAHAHA...wait...AHHH!!!!! –Backs away from evil monster-
SarkLover- LOL, yep, Harry was freaking out, running through the halls, with 5 people trailing behind him! In his bed clothes! Lol!!
Hiei's fiancee- Not a teacher, but close! Hope you liked this chapter!
Elven Warrior1- Not yet, hmm? Can I kill him LATER then? Lol, jk. Don't worry; I would never do that to Harry! -Evil eyes-
MyGildedCage- Lol, yes I have a habit for writing short chapters, sorry! Hope you liked this one, though!
Marblez- MUAHAHAHAHAHA! hope you liked this one!
----
To them and everyone else, please review! Sorry I'll be gone for so long, I promise you lots of chapters, updated quickly, when I return!