AN: Disclaimer: I do not OWN Harry Potter. That honor is reserved for J.K. Rowling. Enjoy!

Chapter Thirteen

The Fight

"Harry why do you feel like you killed Colin?" Denis asked a calmly as he could. He wanted to shout but know that wouldn't do a whole lot of good.

"Denis I would rather not discuss this with anyone at the moment. Your brother died fighting till I could do what I had to do. That is why I feel like I killed him and the others that died that day. Let alone throughout this war."

"YOU ARE AN IDOIT!" Dennis boomed. "MY BROTHER LOOKED UP TO YOU! YOU WERE HIS INSPIRATION AND HIS MOTIVATOR TO KEEP GOING!" Dennis took a deep breath to calm himself down. "Harry if Colin could see you now. Feeling guilty because of his decision to join the fight then he would slap you senseless. In fact I think I'll let my sister take care of that when you explain that there is a reason why my mother didn't tell us til this past summer when her letter came."

Harry looked flabbergasted at the insinuation of little Annabelle hitting him. After about a minute Harry laughed. "Thanks Dennis. You're the first person to actually make me see what an idiot I've been about feeling guilty. Before you say good, I am still going to feel a tad responsible for Colin's death and the others because I was the one Riddle wanted and they all fought for a better future without much second thought. If I had been quicker not so many people would have died and been killed."

Dennis huffed. Then took a step forward and slapped Harry across the face. "They fought to bring about a safer world and you don't know that they wouldn't have died if you could have ended the war quicker. Besides if this keeps up I'm getting Ginny to talk sense into you." Dennis would have gone on but at that moment the door to the carriage opened and Dennis's little sister walked through looking scared. "Annabelle I told you to wait in the carriage with the trunks."

Harry looked between the two siblings and then said, "Don't worry Dennis if she's that scared to be without you then she can stay with you. Even during the meeting. This war has been hard on all so if she wants to stay with you she can. If you both will excuse me I must inform the Head Girl about this so she doesn't freak when she sees and extra person during the meeting. Besides I have a feeling that even if you take her back to the carriage she would just follow you back."

Dennis looked up and said, "Thanks Harry. I think she thinks that if she lets me out of her sight for too long I'll leave her like Colin did."

Harry just shook his head and said before leaving to find Hermione, "Like I said Dennis this war was hard on everyone even if they knew very little." Harry smiled down at Annabelle and left the Hads carriage before Dennis could respond. Harry finally found Hermione in the last carriage having just finished changing into her robes. "Dennis's little sister is going to sit in on the meeting to stay close to her brother." She nodded then looked at Harry closer.

"Did you sleep at all last night or were you and Ginny up all night snogging?" She asked him jokingly then she turned serious and said, "You aren't still feeling guilty are you? Because you shouldn't."

"Don't worry Hermione. Dennis already yelled at me and forced me to realize that I've been an idiot." Harry chuckled as he pulled on his robes to be appropriately attired for the Heads meeting. Ginny and Ron found them in the Head's compartment just before the train took off due to their later start getting to the platform. The rest of the journey went by uneventfully (for Harry).

AN: I am sorry for the absence I was having trouble writing this chapter but hopefully I'll be over the writer's block soon. Thank you reading and please review I tend to update faster the more reviews I get.