Chapter 26 – The Clam Before the Storm

CPOV

Harry was recovering from what Snape and Colleen told me. I am locked in his room, not being able to see or interact with anyone other than them because of the strength of their Occlumency shields. Derrick would talk to me but he felt weird talking to me when my own fiancé couldn't. It was Friday, March 13, and the four month anniversary since I started dating Harry and it was coming up on our engagement anniversary on the twenty-third. I thought back to all of the time I had with Harry Potter. I smiled as the first time I saw him, the first time we kissed, the first time he smiled at me, the first time he said he loved me….. My daydream was brought to an end when I was pulled into Voldemort's mind.

"Everyone is ready my Lord. All the preparations have been completed early. We can attack tonight at dusk." Voldemort felt completely satisfied.

"Tell everyone to be ready because Hogwarts will fall tonight!" I was in shock for the longest time. The Order was preparing for Saturday. The school was being stripped and fixed for the battle tomorrow.

"REMUS! SIRIUS!" I screamed, running from Harry's room, Coeur following loyally. Danny woke up from the dresser.

"Connie, why are you screaming? You know…"

"We are being attacked tonight, not tomorrow. Voldemort just announced it to his army. We need to prepare quickly so that no one dies." Remus nodded and ran off. Sirius came up to me and led me down to the meeting downstairs. The Order looked up and froze as they saw me. Except for Sirius, Remus, Snape, Dumbledore and our friends, no one knew I was alive.

"Connie, you're alive?"

"Yeah, I was never captured. Harry cashed in a life debt with an undesirable person and so I am completely safe but Harry isn't. They are attacking tonight. Voldemort just changed his mind because everything is ready for them." I was trying not to cry. I pushed at the mental block Harry had on our bond. He cracked it open and I sent him what I saw. He knew it already but now that we didn't have to hide, I felt him perk up and strengthen quickly. The bond opened completely and all our powers merged at once. It felt amazing to be able to connect completely again.

We'll be ready here. See you soon. The Order started organizing and I prepared for the battle ahead that would be all-or-nothing.

HPOV

The DA was shedding school robes for Muggle clothes and fighting gear. I was already dressed in my jeans and the black sweater that had the red phoenix on it. My wand was against my arm and I had shed my depressed demeanor for the one everyone was familiar with; confident, deadly and powerful. I felt completely healed since my powers re-merged with Connie's. She would be appearing in the Great Hall soon and that was where I was headed. I looked out the windows to see the sun still shining. It's just before dinner and the whole castle was in a turning mayhem. We were trying to get around so that the younger students wouldn't be fighting and so that I could get to Voldemort. I entered the Great Hall and immediately felt her. I looked around and then she was entering the castle. She was in worn jeans, a white sweater with the blue phoenix on it and I could see her wand pressed against her arm. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail with a few stubborn strands forward in her face. She was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen in a month and when her sea blue and star sparkling eyes found me, I ran right to her. She smiled at me and then ran to me as well. Anyone around moved out of the way as we collided against each other. Our lips met in a frenzy of love, pent-up passion and desperation. My hands were gripping at her ponytail as her hands clasped around my neck. I hadn't had Connie pressed against me or even near me in too long and so her body being so close, warm and pliant to my own made me hard and lustful for her.

"Harry, I've missed you so much. I love you and please never do this again. I could barely stand your agony."

"Of course. I won't ever be able to separate from you like that because I'm selfish and want, no need, you next to me forever." I kissed her hungrily again before we were ambushed by our friends. It was a huge group hug in the middle of chaos and no one noticed Dumbledore shedding a tear from the upper floor.

"Time to prepare. Dusk is soon." I looked out to see the sun was almost completely set over the horizon. Instead of assisting in helping prepare, we all walked to the open door and watched the sun set on the last minutes of peace.

AN: Horribly cliff-hanger, I know. I know I'm horrible at keeping promises but There really is only the battle, resolution and epilogue left after this chapter. Have fun speculating!