Chapter 21: What Do We Do?
Harry sat down on Ron's bed in the Burrow, running his hand through his messy hair. It had already been three weeks since Ginny was killed and the Weasley's had just moved back into the Burrow, they hadn't wished to stay there right after Ginny had been killed and had gone to stay with Sirius and Harry. "We can't do anything Ron. Alvar was the one who knew what to do." Harry sighed, having gone over this many times.
"But mate, he's obviously doesn't want to help us anymore. We need someone to lead us." Ron argued.
"And you still expect me to take Alvar's place." Harry stated. The past week this was all that had been discussed. After that night, Alvar had not been seen by anyone. Anytime Harry tried to go visit him, Vippy would tell him that Alvar was busy and that he needed to leave right away. It didn't help that Daphne still refused to go see him, or see much of anyone for that matter. She too had kept herself at home; at least she let them visit occasionally and let Tracy stay for longer than thirty minutes.
"I can't do it, Ron. I don't know where to start. Nothing in our textbooks can compare to the knowledge that Voldemort has amassed. Besides, I don't even know how to lead anyone." Harry explained.
"Well just because Alvar up and left us doesn't mean that I'm going to give up, and neither should you." Ron said before getting up and heading downstairs to the kitchen.
Harry let himself fall back onto the bed, spreading his arms out wide. No matter how many times he went over it in his head he couldn't think of what to do. The only logical leader in the group would be Hermione, she knows a lot of spells that could be useful, although, she can be a bit bossy at times. Harry sighed before getting up and walking over to the window. He pulled back the blinds and looked out to the field around the Burrow. Burn marks and dirt marked the grass all over, remnants of the battle.
"Honestly Ronald, can't you wait. Dinner will be in a minute."
Harry smiled at the sound of Hermione chastising Ron. Hermione had stayed at Grimmauld place for a few days after Ginny's death. The two of them had been subject to the relentless teasing from Sirius but it was worth it. Soon after she had returned to her parents house but had visited many times a week.
Harry left Ron's room, walking down the stairs, pausing at Ginny's room. The door remained shut, the Weasleys had left it mostly untouched other than Molly and Arthur going in a few times. Harry continued onto the kitchen where he found Ron sitting at the table, a fresh roll in his hand with Hermione standing beside him, her hands on her hips.
"Harry, explain to Ronald why he doesn't need to steal food just before dinner!" Hermione
"She's barmy mate." Ron said with his mouth full. He swallowed after a glare from Hermione. "I need my food, I'm a growing man after all."
Hermione rolled her eyes and walked back into the kitchen to help Molly. At that moment, the floo lit up.
"Remus!" Harry said happily as he walked over to his father's friend. "What are you doing here?"
"Just a moment Harry." Remus said.
The floo lit again and out stepped Tonks and then Sirius. Molly and Hermione stepped out of the kitchen, bringing in food and setting it on the table. "All right everyone sit down while I get Arthur and the twins." Molly said.
"What's this all about?" Harry asked.
"Well since we missed your birthday a few weeks ago..." Ron thought back, "we decided to have your birthday today."
Harry knew the exact event that Ron was referencing, his birthday hadn't even crossed his mind but he was grateful regardless. Soon enough, everyone was seated around the table and they all dug in.
"Presents." Molly declared.
"From us, Harry." Arthur said, handing Harry a small package.
Harry carefully undid the bow and opened up the box. It was a homemade pair of socks, workout pants, and tank top. "Thank you."
"It was nothing dear." Molly replied with a smile.
Ron passed on his next, a new wizard's chess set, then Hermione with a book on unusual curses and their counter curses, the twins got him a set of experimental products from their store, and Remus and Tonks got him a copy of the Auror training guide.
"And now, for my gift." Sirius said cheerfully. He pulled out a medium sized rectangular box. "Well this is technically from Moony too but he already gave you one from Tonks, we can't have him show us all up with two gifts." Sirius winked.
Harry laughed and took the offered box. He took of the top to reveal two long rectangular boxes. Harry looked up at Sirius who smiled and nodded back. Harry took one out and opened it up, "10 1/4 inches of willow." Remus said.
Harry stared reverently at his mother's wand in his hands. He gently placed it back down in it's case and took out his fathers. "11 inches mahogany." Sirius said as he put his arm around Harry. Harry felt tears start to come to his eyes but blinked them away as he hugged Sirius. "Thanks." Harry said softly.
Harry sealed back up both wand boxes and put them back into the package. "Oh, Harry." Molly said.
Harry turned to face her. "We found this in Ginny's room and..." Molly couldn't continue. She just handed over a large book to him.
Harry ran his hand down the spine of the book, "The Dark Lords and their Battles", Harry opened up the cover to find a message.
Harry, I can't believe what you have lived through. Many times as I grew up I found I felt that my life was hard and now I understand what true hardships are. You inspired me Harry. The stories about you were magnificent but the real you is so much better than anything that I read. You saved my life when I was eleven and I've never repaid you for that, hopefully one day I can do something equally as important for you. I hope that this helps you take down this monster.
Love, Ginny
Harry didn't know what to do or say. He started crying as he read the note. Sirius and Hermione came over to comfort him but he held them off as he finished reading. Once he was done, he closed the book and held onto Hermione. Sirius led them over to the floo after thanking the Weasleys. Harry went through with Hermione to Grimmauld Place before Sirius followed them back home.
"Alvar!"
"Master Alvar is busy and I must ask you to leave." Vippy answered.
"I don't care Vippy, get him down here!" Hermione yelled.
"I must ask that you leave." Vippy said again.
"Not until Alvar gets down here!" Alvar I know you're here! Get down here!" Hermione yelled.
"You will leave now." Vippy stated firmly.
Hermione ran forward and knocked a vase of of a nearby table. Vippy snapped her fingers and caused it to levitate mid air. She ran forward and grabbed it and put it back carefully on the table. Hermione had already charged forwards and entered the dining room. Alvar was sitting there calmly, eating a small fruit salad. "Alvar."
Alvar continued to stare ahead and eat his food. "Get up!" Hermione yelled.
"No." Came the bored tone of Alvar.
"Just because you've quit out on us doesn't mean that the rest haven't. Why don't you come back?" Hermione asked.
Alvar shrugged his shoulders and carefully picked up a strawberry on his spoon before eating it.
"What happened to Ginny wasn't your fault." Hermione said.
"Yes it was, it's why Daphne hates me now and why everyone else must hate me." Alvar explained.
"No one else thinks that, Alvar." Hermione said sympathetically.
"Not even Ron?" Alvar asked, raising an eyebrow.
Hermione thought back to the first few days after it had happened. Ron had practically been out for blood after he heard that Alvar left Harry to save Daphne, leaving Harry to face Voldemort by himself. After Harry had explained the situation, saying that Hermione had been in danger as well and that if Alvar hadn't intervened, both Hermione and Daphne would have died. That didn't help much but after Harry said that it was his own fault, not being able to handle Voldemort himself got Ginny killed, Ron calmed down a little.
"No he doesn't blame you." Hermione lied.
"Mhmm." Alvar hummed.
"It doesn't matter, we don't know what to do or how to get better. None of us have the knowledge or skill to teach everyone else how to defeat the Death Eaters, we need you. Please come back," Hermione pleaded.
Alvar turned away from Hermione. He knew that they didn't stand a chance without someone. Abruptly, Alvar stood up and started walking to the stairs. Hermione followed behind me, constantly asking what he was doing. Alvar finally reached the library and began to peruse the shelves, grabbing many books and putting them back onto a table. After grabbing nearly thirty books, Alvar stopped looking for more and pointed to the huge stacks.
"Thank you, but your still welcome you know, we honestly don't blame you for what happened." Hermione said.
She went up to the stacks and tried to think how sbe was going to carry it all. Suddenly, the books started shrinking down, small enough that she fit all of them in her pocket. "Thanks."
Alvar nodded and led her back to the floo. "Are you..." Hermione began.
"I'm not coming back."
Hermione paused, she nodded, turned and walked into the floo. "Grimmauld place."
"You know that you make it really easy to find you."
Alvar sighed and leaned back into his seat. He glanced out the window of the Hogwarts Express. The rolling green hills passed by endlessly. A flock of sheep, standing around, staring at the train as it passed. "Even so, few could get in here with my advanced wards. Only Voldemort, Dumbledore," He looked over to his companion, "and annoying brats."
"Cute." Astoria replied as she leaned back, putting her legs up on the seat opposite her.
Minutes passed by, neither party saying anything. Alvar was reading a book on potions while Astoria seemed content to sit there and smile lightly at him. Alvar occasionally glanced up and his eyes always met Astoria's before he went straight back to his book.
"Why aren't you with your friends?" Alvar asked, giving up his silence.
"Finally, he speaks." Astoria grinned. "Because I wanted to talk to you."
"And?" Alvar asked.
"And what?" Astoria asked innocently.
Alvar rolled his eyes and went back to his book. "Okay, I wanted to tell you that this is Daphne's fault."
"Wha-" Alvar began.
"Shush. She's in the wrong, you're right. She thinks that she's at fault for Ginny's death and that's why she's been avoiding everyone." Astoria explained.
"She's so..." Astoria waved her arms in the air, "I don't know how to explain it but she's just not being herself right now. Try talking to her... no bad idea." Astoria said as she put a finger to her lips.
"Try a note to get her to meet you alone, maybe don't tell her that it's you that wants to meet with her."
Alvar shook his head. "She obviously wants nothing to do with me and I don't want to bother her anymore."
Astoria groaned, "Why do you both suck so much."
Alvar cracked a slight smile at that but quickly hid it. "I guess I might try, but who could the note come from?"
"Not me, Daphne and I are kinda at odds right now, Tracy might work, none of the other girls will work. Harry might work as well, and actually if you could get Neville to go along with it, that might be a good one to go with," Astoria mused.
Alvar thought things over, it might be best for him to speak to Daphne alone, and there's no way that she would go to meet him if she's as upset as he suspects. "Thanks, Astoria." Alvar smiled.
"No problem," Astoria grinned, "now my services don't come for free and I hear the trolley coming..."
Alvar rolled his eyes but smiled regardless. He reached into his pocket and tossed her a few galleons. Astoria's eyes lit up as she saw the money, this could buy her a lot of candy. Astoria charged out of the compartment, and ran of to the trolley.
Alvar closed the door back up and lay back down in his seat. He must have dozed off because he was shocked by a loud knock coming from the door. He groggily got up to the door and peered through the blinds, Malfoy was standing there.
Curious, Alvar sat back down and waved his hand and the door opened up. Draco walked in, alone. He sat down across from Alvar and Alvar closed the door back up.
"I come with a message." Draco said softly.
"I don't care as to what you have to say." Alvar replied.
"That doesn't matter, just listen." Draco said. "The dark lord recognizes your skills and he wants to make a deal with you. Leave this conflict, don't fight for either side and you shall be left alone. Any of your friends that do so as well will be left alone, other than Potter." Draco sneered.
"Once the conflict is done and the dark lord reigns supreme, he will leave you and your land alone. You will be recognized as a noble pureblood of the Peverell family as will all of your friend's titles remain. At any point you are welcome to join my lord in his conquest but that decision ultimately remains with you."
"No." Alvar replied as soon as Draco finished.
Draco was baffled, "Think about what you're saying, it's clear the dark lord will win and he's offering you a way out, why won't you take it?"
"Because Voldemort will never win, not while I'm still alive." Alvar said confidently.
"Then you are a fool, you have clashed with the dark lord before and you clearly were no match for him. You can't win, Potter can't win, none of you can win." Draco argued vehemently.
"Keep thinking that." Alvar said as he stood up. Draco stood up as well.
"You will regret this, Dumbledore won't be around to protect you all forever." Draco left the cabin and went back to his friends.
Alvar locked up the cabin again and sat back down, he looked back to the window and he found a chocolate frog package resting against the window. Smiling, Alvar grabbed it and opened it up. "Thanks Astoria."
He whispered. Merlin stared back at him on the card, his staff in plain view. "Soon, I will have one of my own." Alvar reminded himself.
Soon enough, the train arrived at Hogsmeade Station. The students disembarked, the first years looking around in awe. Alvar strode past all of them, entering a carriage on his own. Closing and locking the door, he leans back and waits for the impending war with Daphne. The carriage jolted to a start and began moving forward towards the school.
Upon disembarkment, Alvar stepped out of the carriage and paused for a moment to pet the Threstral that brought him here before continuing towards the school. He was barely noticed by others as the crowd moved slowly into the Great Hall. The first thing that Alvar noticed was the lacking of his table in the middle of the hall, Dumbledore must have gotten rid of it, Alvar thought to himself. Alvar then walked over to the end of the Slytherin table and sat down, glaring at anyone who tried to sit close to him. He saw as his friends entered, Hannah and Susan first, then Neville, Ginny, Hermione and Ron.
Then Daphne entered, beside Tracy. Alvar could see that she already had her "Ice Queen" mask on, a blank stare as though nothing around her was of any importance. Tracy was the first one to see him and tried to steer Daphne over towards him but the moment she saw him, she turned again and moved towards the middle of the table. Tracy looked at Alvar once more before following her friend to their seats.
Alvar looked away, with his own mask on as though nothing would bother him, but on the inside he was hurt. He saw Luna come in with the last group of students and plop down contently in her seat. Alvar stopped a smile from appearing on his lips but Luna was always there to lift everyone's spirits. Soon enough, the sorting began, the song was much of the same as last year, a focus on house unity and the impending darkness. Then the students were sorted, a fairly large year but Alvar didn't pay any mind to what was going on around him.
Finally, Harry entered into the Great Hall, covered in blood, a few minutes after the last student had been sorted. He sat down at his table beside his friends. Alvar continued to eat his food, glancing up at the head table at the new Professor and at Dumbledore. Soon enough, the food was removed from the tables and Dumbledore got up to the podium.
"The very best of evenings to you!" Dumbledore said, with his arms spread out to the whole room.
Alvar instantly noticed the black hand that Dumbledore now hand. It looked as though it were decaying.
"Nothing to worry about." Dumbledore said, covering his hand with his robes. "We are pleased to welcome a new member of the staff this year, Professor Slughorn." Slughorn stood up, bald and severely overweight.
"Professor Slughorn has graciously agreed to resume his old post of Potions Master here at Hogwarts. Meanwhile, Professor Snape will be taking over Defence Against the Dark Arts class."
The crowd of students all began to whisper to one another, this was big news. "Now, off to bed with all of you. Pip-pip." Dumbledore said, waving them off.
All of the students began to get up and return to their common rooms. At every table, large groups of first year students waited to be led to their common room by their prefects. Alvar walked past the other students and began walking towards his common room. He rushed ahead of everyone else, making sure that he would be the first one to arrive. He immediately went straight to his room. Even though Astoria had convinced him to try to make up with Daphne didn't mean that he was ready to face everyone yet. He began thinking and planning, trying to decide how best to approach this. Hopefully everyone other than Daphne would be easy enough to deal with.
Alvar sighed, he shouldn't be thinking about anyone other than Daphne. Alvar began listing what he knew in his head, Daphne was very mad with him. Why? Because she felt that she was the one that caused Ginny to be killed. But why? Because he had to go save her, leaving Harry alone with Voldemort. Why is she too avoiding the others? Because she feels responsible, the same reason why he was avoiding them, Alvar thought glumly to himself.
How could he fix this? Meet with her alone? Talk to her about it? Reconcile? But would it work? Besides, what would he say to her once they got there. He could always wing it. Alvar growled frustratedly. He didn't know how to deal with these things.
A couple of knocks.
Alvar turned to the door, he went onto the ground and peered under the door, seeing someone's feet. He activated his passive legilimency, catching a quick glance onto the surface thoughts of the person in front of the door. It was Tracy.
Alvar paused for a moment before letting her in. She walked in and fell onto her back on Alvar's bed. Alvar closed the door and Tracy sighed.
"I'm so sick of dealing with her right now, just hurry up and fix things."
"Funny, Astoria basically said the same thing."
Tracy glanced over to Alvar who had seated himself in a chair at the foot of the bed. She went back to staring up at the ceiling. "You have no idea how depressing it is when you have to deal with the Ice Queen when she is depressing. It's really tiring."
"I get it, I'm going to try to make things up with her soon, as well as everyone else." Alvar said.
"Well you better get to is soon. Everyone is antsy to continue training again and although Harry might make a decent leader, he doesn't have the knowledge or the confidence that you have." Tracy said, getting up from the bed.
"Would you mind asking her to meet me tomorrow night at 7 in the Room of Requirement?" Alvar asked. "Actually, tell her that you want to hang out alone in the room, away from others. Then I'll meet her there."
"Fine, just don't expect her to be pleased when she sees you, and I will expect something in return later for making Daphne angry at me." Tracy said, leaving the room.
AN: Hello everyone, again I'm sorry for the delay. I'm believe that I will be able to update more frequently which will be nice. At least 1 chapter every 2 weeks if not more. I want to finish up this story before September but that may or may not happen, we will see. Anyway, I know that this chapter may be a bit of a let down, mostly filler but it is leading to more. The next couple of chapters will help set up the plot for the sixth year and a bit of the seventh. I hope that this year will be a bit more expansive than the previous one, covering more and becoming more detailed. I can see how my writing has improved from the atrocious first few chapters and I expect it to continually get better as the story progresses.
I would like to thank you all for reading and sticking with me. I have big plans for this story and I can't wait to see where this story leads.
PS: I hope I didn't make Alvar too much of a cry baby, I'm not exactly happy with how I had him deal with the situation but I suppose that people don't always think clearly under certain situations.