The Cruel Irony
Chapter 25: Harry's Story
"Harry, can you explain to us what the bloody hell is going on?" Hermione demanded angrily as they were pushed down onto beds in the Capitol's Government House and the official headquarters for the Hunger Games.
"Hermione, don't swear!" Ron chided, grinning at her. Hermione, however, wasn't amused.
"Ron, this isn't funny and this is no time for joking around!" Hermione said as a nurse began to examine her with state of the art medical inventions.
"Calm down, Hermione," Ron said reassuringly from the bed next to her.
Hermione frowned and glare at him. "I'm whisked away from the arena in a hovercraft by our best friend - who is supposed to be dead -and some gaming officials and he refuses to tell us anything about what's going on until we're settled down. Here we are, in the Government House in the City Circle of our capital, being told not to worry about anything and we're now having our bodies examined for any injuries and I have no idea what is going on, so no, Ronald Weasley, I will not calm down!"
"Hermione, hold on," Harry said. "If you'll just let me, I'll explain everything to you in a moment. Let me just make sure you're okay." He turned to the nurses who were scrambling around. "How are they?"
"This one," a tall male brunette began, gesturing to Ron, "needs a bit more antivenom in him before he's in the all-clear."
"And Hermione?" Ron asked, looking over worriedly at her. "How's she?"
The young blonde with curly hair that was attending Hermione looked up from Hermione's right arm. "Apart from a few bruises here and there she's fine," she said, brushing a strand of hair from her face and standing up. "A little stressed though, Harry, so you'd better explain everything to her."
"Yeah, Harry, what's happening?" Ron asked, attention on his best friend now that he knew Hermione was all right. "What happened to you? What's happened to the Hunger Games? Why were we taken out? Where's the president?"
"Well," Harry began hesitantly once the nurses and gaming officials had left, leaving them completely alone. Hermione noticed that his eyes had darkened a little in anger. "He's dead."
"'Dead?'" Hermione repeated incredulously. "President Riddle is dead?" Once Harry nodded his head in affirmation, she immediately asked "How?"
"I killed him."
Everything was quiet between the three friends for a moment as Ron and Hermione tried to comprehend what Harry had just said. Harry was looking at them, waiting for them to say something.
Eventually, Hermione broke the silence. "How?" she said again, quietly.
Harry opened his mouth to reply, then paused. His eyes drifted away from them and gazed at something just past their heads, as if he were mulling something over in his mind. Eventually, he glanced back at them and said, "Perhaps I'd better start from the beginning."
"Yeah, good idea," Ron said, looking a little relieved. Hermione had a feeling it was because he was more confused than ever. She was feeling exactly the same way, and she didn't like it one bit. "So what happened to you when Hermione found you? How come you're not dead?" There was an unspoken agreement between Ron and Hermione. They both knew that this was the real Harry sitting before them. All they were wondering was how he could be here, when he was supposed to be dead?
Harry merely shook his head at them. "I think I ought to start at the very beginning."
"When?" Hermione asked.
"I..." Harry began, then sighed. "I guess I better explain a couple of things before I get to how I 'died.' And I suppose... the best thing to do is to start from when I was born... maybe a little before that."
He took a deep breath, then began to explain.
"President Riddle has always been really power hungry. His grandfather was the one that led the rebellion, as you know, and he took over as president after his grandfather died, because his dad, who was supposed to be the next leader, died when he was little—"
"Harry, we know this already," Hermione interrupted, sounding a bit more annoyed than she intended.
"I need to give you the back-story, Hermione," Harry told her.
Hermione sighed and nodded reluctantly. "Sorry, Harry," she said. "I'll try not to interrupt again."
She heard Ron snort softly behind her and she turned around to glare at him.
"Anyway," Harry continued. "He really loved his position and the Hunger Games, and he always believed that nothing would stop this system and it would stay like this forever, long after he was gone... then..."
"Then?" Ron and Hermione prompted in unison.
Harry sighed and looked up at the two of them. "I found out how my parents died... why... why I ended up with my aunt and uncle."
Hermione held her breath. She had been awfully curious about it for a long time. It seemed to be quite difficult for Harry to tell them and she knew she had to be patient.
"Riddle had all these people working for him, you see... guards, servants, peacekeepers... and psychics, too."
"Seers, you mean?"Hermione clarified. "The technical term for them is seers."
"Yeah, right," Harry said dismissively, as if it didn't matter, and Hermione supposed it didn't. "Anyway, one came to him one day telling him about someone... someone that was going to ruin everything that Riddle loved. Riddle... he obviously wasn't happy, you see. He killed the seer—" Hermione gasped, "—but not before getting enough information from them to figure out it was going to be a baby born to my parents."
"You?" Hermione asked incredulously, and Harry nodded sadly.
"He decided he had to go and kill me before I could ruin everything. He came one night. My parents weren't expecting him, the president, at all, and they especially weren't expecting him to have come to kill me... but once they realised that he was taking out his wand and preparing to kill me... they snapped into action, I guess... and... and my dad was the first one Riddle killed. He died trying to protect us, distract Riddle from us and give Mum enough time to get out with me."
Hermione wanted to get up from her bed and walk over to Harry and sit next to him, comfort him, but she felt that any movement may cause Harry to stop telling them his story, and so she waited patiently for Harry to compose himself.
"Riddle immediately turned to Mum, and... and Mum tried... she tried so hard, she begged and pleaded him to spare me... to kill her instead and just leave me..." Harry quickly wiped his eyes with his hand and continued. "He didn't, though. She was killed next, for being in the way."
"Harry, mate?" Ron spoke up and Hermione turned to face him. "You don't have to tell us this."
"No, no," Harry said, shaking his head vehemently. "You need to know this." And he tightened his jaw and determinedly glanced back up at them. Hermione knew he was filled with new-found resolve.
"When he turned to me," Harry began, his voice shaking slightly, "with his wand raised and nothing in the way, he yelled out the spell and..."
"And?" Hermione prompted.
"It didn't work," Harry said simply.
"Why?" Hermione asked, a little too desperately.
Harry ignored her. "Moments before I was 'killed' – in the Hunger Games, two days ago, I mean – I heard this rustle. I was on my way to the Cornucopia, remember? After Ron got bitten by the snake?" Hermione nodded; she remembered all too well how scared she'd been. "And... I thought that the rustle was another snake, but before I could do anything, all of a sudden it was coiling around my leg, sliding up my body, towards my face, covering my eyes, and I couldn't see anything, and then, I felt it bite me, really hard, and then suddenly, I didn't feel anything... I... I completely blanked out... I don't remember anything."
"What do you remember, then?" Hermione asked. "How did you get here?"
"I'm getting to that," Harry insisted. "After awhile I began to hear voices. It was still dark, I couldn't see anything, but I heard someone. Two people, actually. They were talking."
"Somehow, I knew I shouldn't open my eyes just yet. From the sound of it, these guys were either peacekeepers or gaming officials.
"'They managed it, right?' one said, in a low, slightly nervous tone.
"'Yes, it's all been taken care of,' said the other, full of authority.
"'He's probably none too pleased about it,' the first said, voice shaking. 'Another one in Ten so soon after the one in Six?'
"'Of course he isn't. Who likes rebellions, let alone two in the space of a few weeks?' the second grumbled. 'He doesn't let on his displeasure, though. At least, not to everyone. He knows none of the gaming officials are as loyal to him as he'd like, and only obey him because they're afraid. He knows that you're one of them. Only us peacekeepers are loyal to him, that's why he chooses us in particular.' Pride was evident in his voice.
"'Do you think they planned this? Six and Ten? Did they want to rebel at the same time?'
"'No, how could they have known the other had rebelled? No district knows what the others are up to.'
"'Do you think there'll be another one?' asked the first one nervously.
"'Nah, President Riddle will scare Panem into listening to us. He always does. Besides, the Hunger Games is nearly over this year. They only rebelled because they think it's unfair so many kids have to die. That little trio and the romance that sprung between Ginger and Know-it-all made their conscience kick in, so to speak. Once the games finish this year, they won't have anything to get angry over and Riddle will calm them before next year.'
"I didn't really know what was happening to me, and I really wanted to open my eyes and see what was going on, but I couldn't until they'd left. It didn't take too long. They left soon after, but I pretty much gathered that there'd been two rebellions - one in six, one in ten - and that Riddle has been using the peacekeepers to control the people, who are obviously getting restless and sick of all this.
"As soon as I'd heard the door close, I opened my eyes. I was in a white room, sort of like a hospital. I looked from side to side and... and all around me were the tributes that'd already died. I was in the room that they keep the dead bodies in before the state-wide funeral. You know, the one at the end of the games—"
Ron and Hermione nodded, listening attentively to every word Harry was saying.
"Anyway, I wasn't sure about what was going on, but I somehow died and came back alive, so to speak. All I knew was that I was definitely still here. Before I could figure out what to do, I heard footsteps. I quickly lay back down and closed my eyes. It was just... instinct, I suppose.
"There were two people again, but they were different to the first to. The first voice, I knew, was Riddle. The second sounded like an elderly man that I'd never heard before.
"'Now, Bogs,' Riddle began—"
"Bogs?!" Hermione gasped, pressing a hand to her chest. "Did you get to see what he looked like? Was he—"
Harry stared at her, eyes boring into hers, and she somehow knew she needed to stop. "Hermione," he said gently, "I'll... let me get to that."
Hermione nodded slowly. "Okay, I'm sorry."
Harry shrugged his shoulder. "It's okay... really, don't... don't worry about it."
But Harry's reassurance didn't help, and instead, made Hermione a little more uneasy. Before she could say anything else, Harry resumed his story.
"'Now, Bogs,' Riddle said, 'you tell me you're also a medical researcher, just like Mr. Granger—'
"'I am, President,' Bogs said, quietly but confidently. 'And I am only happy to do any task you require of me.'
"'I gathered that from when you insisted on taking his place,' Riddle said coolly. 'Now, all I need you to do is confirm to me that Mr. Potter is indeed dead.'
"'Of course, sir.' Bogs replied. I could tell that he was getting closer and closer to me. He reached down and grasped my wrist, pressing it gently. He then moved his hand to my chest, and then lifted it up slightly to my neck and felt my pulse. After a bit of prodding, where I tried my hardest to stay as still as possible, Bogs told him I was dead.
"I didn't really know what to make of it. I thought, either this guy is really stupid, or he wants to help me. And... I just figured it was the latter.
"I heard Riddle give a sigh of relief.
"'Is everything all right, sir?' Bogs asked.
"'I...' began Riddle, 'I have waited so long for this moment.'
"'You wanted Mr. Potter dead?'
"'For a very long time.' Then, Riddle proceeded to tell Bogs the story of why he wanted me dead, that's how I found out—"
"So why didn't he just kill you himself?" Ron asked confusedly. "What happened at your house when your parents died?"
"It turns out," Harry said, "that my mum... her love protected me. The fact that she'd died for me protected me from Riddle. When he tried to kill me... the spell didn't work, and sort of backfired. It didn't kill him, but it weakened him... a lot. He... he lost his magic.
"It began to come back, but really slowly. He couldn't try to kill me again until it'd fully returned. Avada Kedavra is a pretty difficult spell to cast, you see. As you can imagine, every year he was getting more and more frustrated. He really wanted to be the one to kill me. He felt it was his destiny or something... that he was supposed to do it. I guess that was his pride speaking for him.
"But every year, he continued to get more and more anxious. Was I going to destroy everything he and his family had worked so hard for? Eventually, he couldn't take it and decided that having me die in the Hunger Games was good enough for him, and made sure that it was my name that was selected this year."
"But what happened, then?" Hermione asked. "Why didn't that snake kill you?"
"I found that out a little later," Harry said. "Anyway, after Riddle sighed, he said 'Well, then. Now that's been taken care of, I think I'll go request a coffin for him. The gaming officials have his measurements. Do not go anywhere. I will come back and personally escort you out.'
"Then I heard the door open and close. After a few moments, I heard urgent whispering.
"'Harry, Harry!' Bogs said, nudging me.
"'You helped me,' I said, opening my eyes and sitting up, ending up face to face with an elderly man with spectacles similar to mine. 'Why?' Then I remembered he knew your dad, Hermione, so I added, 'Do you know Hermione?'
"'Yes, yes, I have had the privilege of meeting the Granger family. But that is not what I came here to talk about—'
"'You're not meant to be here at all. Mr. Granger is—'
"'Harry, I will explain everything in just a moment, if you'll only let me. I'm afraid we do not have much time. Mr. Granger is a renowned medical researcher and was supposed to come here and announce whether you are dead or not. I needed to be here so that the Grangers wouldn't be in danger. As soon as a peacekeeper arrived in District 3, I knew it was because they needed a medical researcher. They wanted Mr. Granger, but I did not want him anywhere near these people, and so insisted they take me. Now, Harry, did you hear the conversation President Riddle and I just had?'
"'Yeah,' I answered.
"'In that conversation, I confirmed a few things I had begun to suspect based on your conversations with Hermione during the games—'
"'Sir, why am I still here?' I asked.
"'The snake that bit you was controlled creature enchanted by President Riddle. The dreams you'd been having... were they not dreams that you should leave Ronald and Hermione, that you'd survive and be better off without them?'
"I raised my eyebrows at him. That was exactly what they were.
"'I suspected, from the nature of the dreams and the fact that you couldn't remember most of them and the way you began to act after a few of them, that they were induced dreams, which are dreams that are put into the mind. In the conversation I just had with the president, I realised the screams you were emitting the first few times you dreamed were evidence that it was President Riddle who was inducing the dreams. When one has an induced dream, there is always some kind of sign as to who might be inducing it, and the screams you were shouting were screams you shouted on the night your parents died, when you were a baby. I simply needed to confirm that it was indeed him who was tampering with your mind.
"'I had a feeling that Riddle did not like how close you were to winning, and decided that was due to Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger's help, which was why he tried to convince you to leave them and the safety they provided. Unfortunately for him, it did not work, which was why he had to take matters into his own hands by creating a magical creature and making sure it killed you. It would appear to have been done as part of the games, and no one would suspect Riddle of having done it—
"'But I'm here—
"'Because of your mother and the love she had for you. That's how you survived the first time, and that's how you survived again. Your mother has given you protection from him. Our president made the mistake of choosing to go after you on his own. Had he given the task of killing you to someone else, you would have died instantly, like any normal being. But, because of your mother's ultimate sacrifice, he couldn't. At least not indefinitely, which is why you're now here.'
"'So what do I do now?' I asked. 'He'll be back in a moment, won't he?'
"'What you do now, is up to you. You can run away from here, hide somewhere in the woods for the rest of your life, or you can face him—'
"'And kill him?' I asked, knowing what he was implying.
"'That's up to you.' Bogs answered. 'But, Mr. Potter, let me tell you something. If you choose to face him, know that you will not be alone. The people of Panem have long wanted change. You, Ronald and Hermione have given them an extra push to ask for it, which is what caused the recent rebellions in District 6 and 10. If you ask for help, they will give it.'
"'And you?' I asked him. 'Where are you going? Back to District 3?'
"'No, no,' he said, a smile on his wrinkled face. 'I will be going to the place you just escaped.'
"'The arena?' I asked dumbly.
"'Oh, no,' Bogs said calmly. 'In a few moments, when President Riddle returns, he will kill me.'"
"What?" Hermione gasped again, eyes wide with horror. "Harry!"
"That's how I reacted when he said that to me!" Harry exclaimed.
"Where is he?" Hermione demanded. "Where is he?"
Harry quietened, and then swallowed nervously, unable to meet her gaze.
"He did it, didn't he?" Hermione asked quietly. "Riddle killed Mr. Bogs." Harry nodded, and Hermione heard the bed behind her squeak and then hers press down as Ron moved closer to her. He put a comforting arm around her shoulder. "What happened?" she asked. "Keep going. Tell us everything."
"Well," Harry began hesitantly, "Mr. Bogs explained how he was going to die anyway, and he's glad that he'll be dying helping his country and those he loves. He really cared about you, Hermione, and he told me so. He said he's very proud of you and that you're an extremely talented witch.
"Riddle came back in after that. I lay back down just in time. And then... Hermione, are you sure you want to hear this?"
"Yes," Hermione said firmly. "I need to know."
"'I'm so glad you insisted on coming here,' Riddle said, and right away I knew Bogs was right. Riddle sounded happy... insanely happy... and I could just tell something bad was going to happen. 'You're a wise man who has seen a lot in his lifetime. You were alive when my grandfather took over, were you not?'
"'I was, sir,' Bogs answered.
"'You must have not been pleased, having to hand over your wand,' Riddle commented.
"'I believe it had to be done,' Bogs replied.
"'I've been informed that Hermione Granger used to work for you, before she was selected to participate in the Hunger Games. Is that correct?'
"'Yes, that is.'
"'And during her time at... Bogs' Books and Related Products, did she come into contact with any of the magical books peacekeepers found in your home a few hours ago? She seems to be rather knowledgeable for someone who should only have had access to magical books for one week.'
"'... I can assure you, Riddle, I would not have allowed Hermione to see those books. The danger that would result in that...'
"'I'm sure that you didn't think about that when you gave her those books. You only wanted to keep the legacy of magic going, did you not, Bogs?'
"'I... I—sir, Miss Granger did not—'
"'I will not kill her, Bogs, for she will perish soon in these games anyway. But you... you will perish right now.'
"Silence filled the air. Bogs said nothing, and finally Riddle couldn't take it.
"'Even if you did not give Granger those books, I cannot let you leave this building, as you know too much. Pity, really, but you would have met your end soon anyway. Avada Kedavra.' There was a thud as Bogs' body hit the floor."
"I wanted to stop him," Harry insisted, "but I knew I couldn't, Hermione, I—"
"It's all right, Harry," she said, clutching Ron's hand, the one that wasn't around her, tightly. She closed her eyes briefly, knowing that tears were begging to be released, but also knowing she couldn't let them go – not yet, anyway. "I understand. What happened after?"
"Riddle called some officials who carried him away, whilst I continued to play dead. I knew that I had to stop Riddle, or at least die trying. So... after I managed to decide what I was going to do, I cast a disillusionment charm on myself, carefully opened the door, peeked outside, and sneaked out."
"Bogs had given me all that I needed but it was up to me to decide what I did with it. The people of Panem wanted change, they just needed someone to initiate it. Turns out, that someone was going to be me.
"I raced through the hallways, trying to be as silent and hidden as I could be. I needed to let everyone know I was alive. I knew there was some kind of room used with a camera in it. Riddle was always in it when he had to make an interruption on air. I just had to get there and prove I was alive.
"Eventually, I found it. It had a podium and a camera, and it was empty. I switched on the camera quickly, knowing I didn't have much time before the gaming officials found out I was there. Then, I just hoped that it was being played over Panem.
"'I'm alive,' I gasped, exhausted from all that running. 'I survived, and escaped the arena. Others haven't been so lucky. I don't have much time before the guards come in and stop me, so I've got to get out and hide from them in a moment. The games need to be stopped. Riddle's regime needs to be stopped. I know you all agree with me. There is nothing right about this. Friendships have been torn apart, lives have been lost, and it needs to end. Today.
"'I'm going to fight Riddle, but I need your help. I'm sure that the guards from your districts will be called in to come and help find me, but if you distract them long enough, I might be able to get to Riddle and end it. The districts that are closer to the Capitol, come and help me fight. Those that aren't close, rebel in your homes, just like 6 and 10 did. We can stop all this, together.
"'Believe in me. I'm small and fast. I'll be able to hide from these guys. But if I don't succeed anyway, keep fighting, because this all needs to end.
"'But bet on me. Bet on us. We can do this.'
"I raced out of the room, not knowing exactly where I was going, but knowing I just had to stay on my feet and give the districts enough time to process everything and come and help, or just cause mayhem in their own districts. I wasn't sure if they were even going to do it, but this all relied on the people trusting me and listening to me."
"And did they?"Hermione asked.
Harry grinned at her. "Within an hour, during which time I'd stunned and hexed quite a few peacekeepers and loyal gaming officials, I heard chaos outside. The people had listened, and a large majority of Districts 1 and 2 were there, fighting. I had a feeling that others were on their way, because if 1 and 2, the ones most loyal to the Capitol, had snapped, it meant that the others had almost definitely done the same thing."
"But I felt that they may not be entirely sure that I was alive. They needed solid proof –anyone could make a tape of me—"
"But why would the Capitol do that and show it to Panem?" Hermione asked.
"Panem wouldn't be thinking that, though. All they'd be thinking was how could I be alive if they saw me die. They needed some proof, and I needed to get out there and give it to them.
"So I went out there. Peacekeepers were behind me, chasing after my outline, but I blended in with the crowd. It was a horrible sight outside Riddle's home. City Circle was in near-ruins. There were lots of bodies over the cobbled floor... bodies from both sides. But people were still fighting, which was good.
"Then, suddenly, Riddle came out, from the main entrance, and looked down at everybody fighting. Everyone seemed to freeze and look up at him. Then, he addressed me.
"'I see you, Potter,' he said calmly, and everyone turned their heads 'round wildly as they tried to spot me. Several people around me gasped once they saw me and moved aside. Riddle began to walk down the steps that led to his house as more and more people moved to the sides, giving me and Riddle ample space to fight. I could just feel that this was the end. Someone was going to die. I was worried my mum's protection was gone – it'd worked before, but it could have run out. It was entirely possible. My eyes were darting around wildly, trying to get a sense of any more danger from the crowd around us, but Riddle's eyes were firmly on me.
"'You've managed to escape me yet again,' Riddle continued, circling me menacingly. 'How... lucky you have been these many years... your luck ends now, Potter. I feel that I am now strong enough to get through your darling mother's protection. It has been weakened by my many attempts to kill you, and now that my magic has nearly fully returned, it is time to finish what I had started so long ago.'
"Then he began to yell out something, and I don't know what happened to me... I just... I just stuck my wand out and shouted something of my own. It was instinct – like my body was acting of its own accord... he yelled 'Avada Kedavra' and I replied 'Expelliarmus' and... and I suppose Mum's protection hadn't completely vanished, because when those two spells collided in mid-air, Riddle's spell ricocheted back at him and he... he was gone."
"Like that?" Ron asked. "He was killed just like that?"
Harry nodded and shrugged his shoulders. "Yeah."
"And..." Hermione began, trying to make sense of what Harry had told them. "And what happened after that?"
"It was silent for a moment. Then, the peacekeepers resumed their fighting. The peacekeeper that was in the room when I woke up had been right – the gaming officials were not loyal to Riddle at all, whereas the peacekeepers all worshipped him. But because the peacekeepers were outnumbered, they were taken care of quickly. The ones that hadn't been killed were arrested and taken to Riddle's dungeons. Then, the three head gaming officials tried to bring order back. They got up onto the steps of Government House and ordered everyone to calm down. Things were going to change, they said. For the time being, one of them would be the leader, but in a week or so, when things were cleared up, they would hold an election. Anyone from any district could volunteer to be a candidate, they'd narrow down the nominees, and everyone from every district will be allowed to vote.
"Then they asked me to come up and say something. I didn't really know what they wanted me to do, but I obeyed them and got up. All I said was, 'I'm going to go get my friends' and went back into the house. With the help of some other gaming officials, I found the hovercraft and then, found you guys.
"And, well, here we are."
Ron and Hermione let out deep breaths once Harry said those words. So much had happened in the space of one and a half days. It was a lot to take in.
Then, Hermione managed to find her voice. "So... it's over?"
Harry nodded. "Yeah, it's over."
"Not yet," Ron intervened, and Hermione glanced up at him, watching as he grinned at Harry. "You still owe me a game of chess."
Harry groaned and fell back against the pillows of the bed he'd been sitting on. Ron and Hermione laughed.
A/N So, there you have it. The long, long explanation. I think this is the longest chapter of the whole story! I'm pretty sure Harry covered everything. My beta and I read through it several times to make sure we didn't miss anything. Hopefully everything makes sense!
We've got just one more chapter left!
Have an absolutely merry-dairy holiday season! :) (It'd be nice if you left me a review, as a present. ;) )