Alright, chapter 35 is finally up. If you've not read the revised ch34,
you might want to do that before reading this thing. Here we go…
Harry and Draco flew on until the sun began coming up on the horizon. Harry was aching badly at this point, and was beginning to tire considerably.
"Draco, we-I need to set down and rest, I don't know how much longer I can go on." Harry said to Draco and the truth behind his words was obvious in his face.
"Alright. Next lovely barn we come to we stop for a while." The contempt Draco had for barns was readily evident in his voice."
"Thank you Draco." The two flew on a few more miles and settled in for a long winter's nap in a barn under a nearly full moon. Oh, was Draco ever happy…
Hermione awoke about eight that morning. Her neck ached something fierce since she fell asleep in the chair while sitting rather awkwardly. She rolled her head around in an attempt to loosen the knotted muscles and had a little relief. She gazed over to the other chair and saw Colin still passed out. He looked like he was in pain.
She pulled his blanket up a little higher and wondered to herself. 'I wonder if he's feeling Harry's pain right now? I do hope he isn't hurt too badly.' Hermione got up and wandered around the common room. 'If everything went according to their plan, they should be on their way back sometime today.'
Hermione decided that it was a good time for some cocoa so she summoned herself some and sat back and relaxed in the glow of the fire. She dozed off again but was woken by the arrival of the rest of the Gryffindors in the common room, ready for another day of shenanigans.
"They'd better bring some good stories back with them, or else I'll be pissed." That was definitely Seamus. He was ranting to Neville about his exclusion still.
"If they have been at Malfoy Manor, I'm sure there will be a few, Seamus, so don't worry." That was Neville, again trying to calm Seamus down.
"Will you two be quiet?" Hermione asked them, motioning to Colin. "He didn't sleep hardly at all last night, so please try not to wake him now, okay?"
"Oh, sure Hermione. I 'm sorry. I didn't notice him there. Is Harry okay?" Seamus asked, aware of whatever bond that existed between the two.
"Colin thinks he's more or less okay. He knows Harry is hurt, but he doesn't know how bad."
"You don't agree with him, do you?" Neville asked.
"Honestly, no. I think Harry is bad off. I don't know why I think that, but I can't convince myself otherwise."
"I hope you're wrong, Hermione," Neville said.
Ron woke up a little while later feeling just as tired as when he went to bed. His legs ached like there was no tomorrow. His head was throbbing. 'I probably have the flu,' he thought to himself. He got put of bed and decided that a hot shower might be the answer to his aches. After he stepped out he found that it did help some, with the legs anyway, but not the head. He dressed and ventured down into the common room to meet the others for breakfast.
After breakfast was over they all hurried back to the common room, anxious to make it through this day and hopefully end their ruse. Many games of Exploding Snap were played, with Seamus being the overall winner, many things discussed, many an hour spent doing absolutely nothing, and they all enjoyed it. Well, almost all of them.
Colin was feeling more and more worried for Harry as the day dragged on. He couldn't put a finger on it at first, but the more that he thought about it, the more he was sure that he'd not see Harry again. This thought frightened Colin to no end, so he confided in Hermione during a break between the matches.
"Hermione, I don't think I'll see Harry again."
"Colin! That is nonsense. Just wait, he'll be back by tomorrow morning at the latest. Now stop that rubbish talk."
"I don't know, Hermione. Have you ever had premonitions like that?"
"Unfortunately, no. I'm not at all attuned to the extra sensory things like most of the others seem to be. I can imagine that they are probably unsettling though, especially if they confirm your worst fears."
"That is exactly what they are doing. I just can't get over this feeling."
"Well, Colin, as your elder, by one year, I order you to stop it. Just think about all the wonderful times you've had together and those feelings will overpower the negative thoughts. Besides, they are only your worries, you know?"
"I hope you're right, Hermione. I don't know what I will do if--"
"First off, you won't finish that sentence, and second of all, it's your deal, now get on with it, Colin." She smiled at him and passed him the cards..
The morning slid into afternoon and the afternoon into early evening. Every single person in the Gryffindor common room was on edge. No one could put a finger on it, but it felt like they were on a runaway train [[[to be more correct, a runaway story]]]. Ron had been sitting in a chair by the fire, having lost his patience for Snap an hour ago when he decided to go up to the room and put on another shirt, the tower being a little chillier than normal.
He was picking a lovely Mrs. Weasley Special out when he fell to his knees with his head feeling like it was about to burst. He rested his head on the floor and gritted his teeth while waiting for the pain to pass. It finally went on and then he heard a voice speaking in his head.
"I do hope I got your attention, Ron. This is the end of the road, tonight."
"What are you talking about, Surtain?" Ron called slowly getting to his feet.
"Why, tonight we put all the fruits of your labor to use, and finish my project."
"I've not done anything for you. What do you mean, fruits of my labor?"
"Oh, Ron, you've been doing so much for me, but I guess you don't remember. Ever wonder why you're so tired these days, Ron?"
"I'm getting the flu, I suppose."
"No, you've been gathering me supplies at night, especially lately."
"I most certainly have not."
"I'd tell you to ask your friends, but I've done my best to keep them away from you. Young Colin Creevey nearly discovered you, but his attention became diverted elsewhere. I know not by what, and frankly have no care."
"So what is this master plan of yours?" Ron asked him.
"Ah, I won't ruin the surprise for you, but you will be playing a great part in it all. You will be remembered forever because of it, I wager."
"Well, whatever it is, I am not helping you do it."
"Oh Ron, you seem to think you have a choice."
"I do. I tell you no, and to go f-"
"Spare me the profanities, Ron. You have no choice. It is that simple. I've controlled you for this long, one more night won't hurt anything."
"What do you mean you controlled me?"
"Are you really that dense, Ron? I've controlled you since the day you left Hogwarts last summer, to some degree or another. Each and every day. Remember the headaches? The depression? All the joys?" Ron looked in the mirror and saw his look of surprise on his face. "All caused by me. You were difficult at first, but I figured you out, simplified you. Owned you. And you are certainly 'not' backing out of this now."
Ron was just about to yell out when another wave of pain rolled over him like a tidal wave. He tried to fight it off for as long as he could, but he failed. Merlin help us, he failed. Ron got back up and fixed his robes in the mirror and went back down to the common room, biding his time until dark.
"Harry, Harry, wake up." Draco was lightly shaking Harry's less injured arm, trying to rouse him without hurting him further. Draco looked out through a gap in the barn wall and saw the sun was high in sky. He cursed himself for falling asleep, they'd been asleep for about three hours more than Draco had planned. The adventure home had taken a bigger mental toll than he'd imagined, it seemed.
"Harry, please." Draco gave up on trying to rouse him with shakes. He pinched Harry as hard as he could on the inside of his upper arm.
"Ouch! What the hell? Draco? Did I take your blanket or something?"
"No Harry. Sorry to wake you that way, but you were dead to the world." he looked at Harry a second before continuing. He didn't look any better than he did before, maybe worse. He was surely paler. "I'd like to let you sleep longer and let your wounds fix a bit more, but we simply can't stay here any longer."
Harry got to an elbow and looked out the same gap Draco'd used a moment before. "What time is it?"
"It's about two or so, I would say. Come on Harry, we have to get going. I feel like we are already late for something."
"I feel it as well. Help me up, Draco, please?" together, they gingerly got Harry to his feet and with quite a few winces got out of the barn relatively unnoticed. After mounting their brooms they took skyward. Draco watched Harry while he was flying, looking for signs of fatigue or anything. Poison? Oh he hoped not. He vowed to deal with his father personally if any of this hurt his friends further, Dark Side magic and all.
"Hear my words, father. You will pay."
Draco set his attentions back to the sky in front of him and Harry to the right of him and banished all thoughts of retribution till later on.
Dinner was a long and boring affair. Back into the common room they all went, waiting for the day to end and see Harry and Draco when they woke up. Ron sat by himself in the same chair he'd been in all day, staring into the fire. Seamus had finally given up being pissed and was now only interested in getting this ordeal over with. Neville was dozing off sitting next to him, worn out from two days of ranting Seamus. Even the usual vibrant Dennis and Aidan were subdued. The waiting had stressed them all out more than they'd admit. Even Hermione was yawning, something she rarely did. Everyone seemed to just be going on by autopilot. Finally she spoke up.
"Alright everyone. This is getting ridiculous. We're all tense, tired and worried. It is just after ten now, so why don't we all turn in and when we wake back up Harry and Draco will have returned."
"That is the best idea I've heard all day, Hermione," Ron said and grinned.
"Aye, I agree with Ronnikins," Seamus said as he put am arm under Neville's lightly snoring body and picked him up. The whole room seemed wildly receptive to the idea, so off they went, Dennis and Aidan dragging the frowning Colin with them.
Hermione retired to her dorm and enjoyed the change in the air. The common room had been filled with negativity, but up here there was none of that. She still had her worries, but told herself that they were unfounded. Hermione propped herself on a few pillows and got another big book out and started reading, too worked up to sleep yet.
Ron turned in, as did Seamus and Neville, the latter two being too tired to do anything but a little fooling around before falling asleep. He laid on his bed and stared out the window, waiting for the right time after everyone was asleep.
"Go to bed, Colin. It's like Christmas, you know. The sooner you get to sleep, the sooner you'll wake up, then you can open your present," Aidan told him.
"I know, I'm going. You two sound like Mum sometimes, you know?"
"Yes dear, we know," Dennis said in an imitation of his mother's voice. The three of them dozed off sometime around quarter till eleven.
Ron was still laying on his bed, waiting. One by one he felt the others go under, except for Hermione. Ron (Surtain) never really ever got a feeling for her, it was as if she was invisible to him. No matter. It was time.
Ron got back up and quietly put his robes back on. One shoe, then the other. His wand was stuck in a pocket and he was ready to go. He headed out of his door and down one flight of steps and then entered another door. Ron slowly opened the door and snuck a peek. He heard all three boys sleeping so he silently made his way over to the bed in the middle.
"Slumbiero!" he said and a small light shot out to Colin and settled upon him, vanishing inside. The boy's breathing slowed as he entered a very deep, magically aided sleep. "Come on Colin, upsy-daisy. We've got a little trip to the Astronomy Tower," he said. He hoisted Colin up on one shoulder and started walking back out the door.
"Hey Ron, where're you going with Colin?" Dennis asked in a very groggy voice.
"Nowhere. Go back to sleep." he growled.
Dennis rubbed his eyes and looked at Ron in the dim light. "What about the Astronomy Tower?" Ron was irritated now. He pulled his wand back out and uttered one word.
"Stupefy!" he looked as Dennis passed out, then he went ahead and zapped Aidan as well, just for good measure. With that, he stepped out of the fourth year's dorms and made his way to the Astronomy Tower. He arrived about the time another Gryffindor made a very important discovery.
Hermione was still flipping through the old History of Magic book she'd picked up. Sleep was beginning to fall heavy on her, but only a little so far. 'Ten more pages, then I'll turn in, and all this can be over in the morning,' she thought to herself. She slowly read the lines, sleep taking over slowly but surely with ever line.
"Bloody Hell!" she cried as she stumbled upon a very particular name. "Surtain!" she was fully awake and reading now, all pretenses of sleep thrown away.
"A master of the Dark Arts from long ago," she read, "Executed finally in a gruesome ceremony after years on the run from authorities." She went on to finish more of his bio, and I'd tell you what all was in there, but there isn't enough room on your screen. Needless to say he makes Ted Bundy look like a cub scout.
"Oh my!" she said aloud, "Draco said he heard Ron say that name in the Astronomy Tower!" Hermione jumped out of bed, heading to warn Ron of the dangers that this spirit or whatever possessed.
She took the steps to his dorm four at a time, busting in but seeing nothing but a sleeping Seamus and Neville. Ron's bed was messed up and empty. "No!" she whispered and ran back out the door, heading for the Astronomy Tower.
Sorry this chapter took so long, I just didn't like what I wrote so I took about a week getting it acceptable. Well, I also have been on a little Digimon story kick, so that likely didn't help anything either. As you can probably guess, the next chapter is the last (finally!!!) (can you say runaway story? Sheesh.) drop a review or two, if you please.
Harry and Draco flew on until the sun began coming up on the horizon. Harry was aching badly at this point, and was beginning to tire considerably.
"Draco, we-I need to set down and rest, I don't know how much longer I can go on." Harry said to Draco and the truth behind his words was obvious in his face.
"Alright. Next lovely barn we come to we stop for a while." The contempt Draco had for barns was readily evident in his voice."
"Thank you Draco." The two flew on a few more miles and settled in for a long winter's nap in a barn under a nearly full moon. Oh, was Draco ever happy…
Hermione awoke about eight that morning. Her neck ached something fierce since she fell asleep in the chair while sitting rather awkwardly. She rolled her head around in an attempt to loosen the knotted muscles and had a little relief. She gazed over to the other chair and saw Colin still passed out. He looked like he was in pain.
She pulled his blanket up a little higher and wondered to herself. 'I wonder if he's feeling Harry's pain right now? I do hope he isn't hurt too badly.' Hermione got up and wandered around the common room. 'If everything went according to their plan, they should be on their way back sometime today.'
Hermione decided that it was a good time for some cocoa so she summoned herself some and sat back and relaxed in the glow of the fire. She dozed off again but was woken by the arrival of the rest of the Gryffindors in the common room, ready for another day of shenanigans.
"They'd better bring some good stories back with them, or else I'll be pissed." That was definitely Seamus. He was ranting to Neville about his exclusion still.
"If they have been at Malfoy Manor, I'm sure there will be a few, Seamus, so don't worry." That was Neville, again trying to calm Seamus down.
"Will you two be quiet?" Hermione asked them, motioning to Colin. "He didn't sleep hardly at all last night, so please try not to wake him now, okay?"
"Oh, sure Hermione. I 'm sorry. I didn't notice him there. Is Harry okay?" Seamus asked, aware of whatever bond that existed between the two.
"Colin thinks he's more or less okay. He knows Harry is hurt, but he doesn't know how bad."
"You don't agree with him, do you?" Neville asked.
"Honestly, no. I think Harry is bad off. I don't know why I think that, but I can't convince myself otherwise."
"I hope you're wrong, Hermione," Neville said.
Ron woke up a little while later feeling just as tired as when he went to bed. His legs ached like there was no tomorrow. His head was throbbing. 'I probably have the flu,' he thought to himself. He got put of bed and decided that a hot shower might be the answer to his aches. After he stepped out he found that it did help some, with the legs anyway, but not the head. He dressed and ventured down into the common room to meet the others for breakfast.
After breakfast was over they all hurried back to the common room, anxious to make it through this day and hopefully end their ruse. Many games of Exploding Snap were played, with Seamus being the overall winner, many things discussed, many an hour spent doing absolutely nothing, and they all enjoyed it. Well, almost all of them.
Colin was feeling more and more worried for Harry as the day dragged on. He couldn't put a finger on it at first, but the more that he thought about it, the more he was sure that he'd not see Harry again. This thought frightened Colin to no end, so he confided in Hermione during a break between the matches.
"Hermione, I don't think I'll see Harry again."
"Colin! That is nonsense. Just wait, he'll be back by tomorrow morning at the latest. Now stop that rubbish talk."
"I don't know, Hermione. Have you ever had premonitions like that?"
"Unfortunately, no. I'm not at all attuned to the extra sensory things like most of the others seem to be. I can imagine that they are probably unsettling though, especially if they confirm your worst fears."
"That is exactly what they are doing. I just can't get over this feeling."
"Well, Colin, as your elder, by one year, I order you to stop it. Just think about all the wonderful times you've had together and those feelings will overpower the negative thoughts. Besides, they are only your worries, you know?"
"I hope you're right, Hermione. I don't know what I will do if--"
"First off, you won't finish that sentence, and second of all, it's your deal, now get on with it, Colin." She smiled at him and passed him the cards..
The morning slid into afternoon and the afternoon into early evening. Every single person in the Gryffindor common room was on edge. No one could put a finger on it, but it felt like they were on a runaway train [[[to be more correct, a runaway story]]]. Ron had been sitting in a chair by the fire, having lost his patience for Snap an hour ago when he decided to go up to the room and put on another shirt, the tower being a little chillier than normal.
He was picking a lovely Mrs. Weasley Special out when he fell to his knees with his head feeling like it was about to burst. He rested his head on the floor and gritted his teeth while waiting for the pain to pass. It finally went on and then he heard a voice speaking in his head.
"I do hope I got your attention, Ron. This is the end of the road, tonight."
"What are you talking about, Surtain?" Ron called slowly getting to his feet.
"Why, tonight we put all the fruits of your labor to use, and finish my project."
"I've not done anything for you. What do you mean, fruits of my labor?"
"Oh, Ron, you've been doing so much for me, but I guess you don't remember. Ever wonder why you're so tired these days, Ron?"
"I'm getting the flu, I suppose."
"No, you've been gathering me supplies at night, especially lately."
"I most certainly have not."
"I'd tell you to ask your friends, but I've done my best to keep them away from you. Young Colin Creevey nearly discovered you, but his attention became diverted elsewhere. I know not by what, and frankly have no care."
"So what is this master plan of yours?" Ron asked him.
"Ah, I won't ruin the surprise for you, but you will be playing a great part in it all. You will be remembered forever because of it, I wager."
"Well, whatever it is, I am not helping you do it."
"Oh Ron, you seem to think you have a choice."
"I do. I tell you no, and to go f-"
"Spare me the profanities, Ron. You have no choice. It is that simple. I've controlled you for this long, one more night won't hurt anything."
"What do you mean you controlled me?"
"Are you really that dense, Ron? I've controlled you since the day you left Hogwarts last summer, to some degree or another. Each and every day. Remember the headaches? The depression? All the joys?" Ron looked in the mirror and saw his look of surprise on his face. "All caused by me. You were difficult at first, but I figured you out, simplified you. Owned you. And you are certainly 'not' backing out of this now."
Ron was just about to yell out when another wave of pain rolled over him like a tidal wave. He tried to fight it off for as long as he could, but he failed. Merlin help us, he failed. Ron got back up and fixed his robes in the mirror and went back down to the common room, biding his time until dark.
"Harry, Harry, wake up." Draco was lightly shaking Harry's less injured arm, trying to rouse him without hurting him further. Draco looked out through a gap in the barn wall and saw the sun was high in sky. He cursed himself for falling asleep, they'd been asleep for about three hours more than Draco had planned. The adventure home had taken a bigger mental toll than he'd imagined, it seemed.
"Harry, please." Draco gave up on trying to rouse him with shakes. He pinched Harry as hard as he could on the inside of his upper arm.
"Ouch! What the hell? Draco? Did I take your blanket or something?"
"No Harry. Sorry to wake you that way, but you were dead to the world." he looked at Harry a second before continuing. He didn't look any better than he did before, maybe worse. He was surely paler. "I'd like to let you sleep longer and let your wounds fix a bit more, but we simply can't stay here any longer."
Harry got to an elbow and looked out the same gap Draco'd used a moment before. "What time is it?"
"It's about two or so, I would say. Come on Harry, we have to get going. I feel like we are already late for something."
"I feel it as well. Help me up, Draco, please?" together, they gingerly got Harry to his feet and with quite a few winces got out of the barn relatively unnoticed. After mounting their brooms they took skyward. Draco watched Harry while he was flying, looking for signs of fatigue or anything. Poison? Oh he hoped not. He vowed to deal with his father personally if any of this hurt his friends further, Dark Side magic and all.
"Hear my words, father. You will pay."
Draco set his attentions back to the sky in front of him and Harry to the right of him and banished all thoughts of retribution till later on.
Dinner was a long and boring affair. Back into the common room they all went, waiting for the day to end and see Harry and Draco when they woke up. Ron sat by himself in the same chair he'd been in all day, staring into the fire. Seamus had finally given up being pissed and was now only interested in getting this ordeal over with. Neville was dozing off sitting next to him, worn out from two days of ranting Seamus. Even the usual vibrant Dennis and Aidan were subdued. The waiting had stressed them all out more than they'd admit. Even Hermione was yawning, something she rarely did. Everyone seemed to just be going on by autopilot. Finally she spoke up.
"Alright everyone. This is getting ridiculous. We're all tense, tired and worried. It is just after ten now, so why don't we all turn in and when we wake back up Harry and Draco will have returned."
"That is the best idea I've heard all day, Hermione," Ron said and grinned.
"Aye, I agree with Ronnikins," Seamus said as he put am arm under Neville's lightly snoring body and picked him up. The whole room seemed wildly receptive to the idea, so off they went, Dennis and Aidan dragging the frowning Colin with them.
Hermione retired to her dorm and enjoyed the change in the air. The common room had been filled with negativity, but up here there was none of that. She still had her worries, but told herself that they were unfounded. Hermione propped herself on a few pillows and got another big book out and started reading, too worked up to sleep yet.
Ron turned in, as did Seamus and Neville, the latter two being too tired to do anything but a little fooling around before falling asleep. He laid on his bed and stared out the window, waiting for the right time after everyone was asleep.
"Go to bed, Colin. It's like Christmas, you know. The sooner you get to sleep, the sooner you'll wake up, then you can open your present," Aidan told him.
"I know, I'm going. You two sound like Mum sometimes, you know?"
"Yes dear, we know," Dennis said in an imitation of his mother's voice. The three of them dozed off sometime around quarter till eleven.
Ron was still laying on his bed, waiting. One by one he felt the others go under, except for Hermione. Ron (Surtain) never really ever got a feeling for her, it was as if she was invisible to him. No matter. It was time.
Ron got back up and quietly put his robes back on. One shoe, then the other. His wand was stuck in a pocket and he was ready to go. He headed out of his door and down one flight of steps and then entered another door. Ron slowly opened the door and snuck a peek. He heard all three boys sleeping so he silently made his way over to the bed in the middle.
"Slumbiero!" he said and a small light shot out to Colin and settled upon him, vanishing inside. The boy's breathing slowed as he entered a very deep, magically aided sleep. "Come on Colin, upsy-daisy. We've got a little trip to the Astronomy Tower," he said. He hoisted Colin up on one shoulder and started walking back out the door.
"Hey Ron, where're you going with Colin?" Dennis asked in a very groggy voice.
"Nowhere. Go back to sleep." he growled.
Dennis rubbed his eyes and looked at Ron in the dim light. "What about the Astronomy Tower?" Ron was irritated now. He pulled his wand back out and uttered one word.
"Stupefy!" he looked as Dennis passed out, then he went ahead and zapped Aidan as well, just for good measure. With that, he stepped out of the fourth year's dorms and made his way to the Astronomy Tower. He arrived about the time another Gryffindor made a very important discovery.
Hermione was still flipping through the old History of Magic book she'd picked up. Sleep was beginning to fall heavy on her, but only a little so far. 'Ten more pages, then I'll turn in, and all this can be over in the morning,' she thought to herself. She slowly read the lines, sleep taking over slowly but surely with ever line.
"Bloody Hell!" she cried as she stumbled upon a very particular name. "Surtain!" she was fully awake and reading now, all pretenses of sleep thrown away.
"A master of the Dark Arts from long ago," she read, "Executed finally in a gruesome ceremony after years on the run from authorities." She went on to finish more of his bio, and I'd tell you what all was in there, but there isn't enough room on your screen. Needless to say he makes Ted Bundy look like a cub scout.
"Oh my!" she said aloud, "Draco said he heard Ron say that name in the Astronomy Tower!" Hermione jumped out of bed, heading to warn Ron of the dangers that this spirit or whatever possessed.
She took the steps to his dorm four at a time, busting in but seeing nothing but a sleeping Seamus and Neville. Ron's bed was messed up and empty. "No!" she whispered and ran back out the door, heading for the Astronomy Tower.
Sorry this chapter took so long, I just didn't like what I wrote so I took about a week getting it acceptable. Well, I also have been on a little Digimon story kick, so that likely didn't help anything either. As you can probably guess, the next chapter is the last (finally!!!) (can you say runaway story? Sheesh.) drop a review or two, if you please.