A/N: I would like to apologize for how long it took me to get this chapter out. Had a bit of writer's block, but the rest should be out quicker. I'm now pretty sure that there will only be another chapter after this. But I am planning a sequel (so be afraid, be very afraid ;). I grew horns with that last chapter, didn't I (Mwahahahaha!)? Anyway, hopefully all of you who went "what the hell?" will find some of your questions answered in this chapter. Let's see, just wanted to answer a few of the reviews:
~*Ginny*~: Thanks for pointing out my mistake about the Invisibility Cloak. I totally overlooked that. I'm planning to revise this story anyway, so I'll be sure to include that in my revision. For the moment, though, just assume that he took it off while he was walking back to his dorm. Oh yeah, and stop reading my mind! You're freaking me out! ;)
Carrie: Don't worry, I understood what you meant. Thanks for the review :).
To everyone else who reviewed, thank you very much for all the encouragement, and for responding at all. The reviews are what keep me going. I'd also like to thank my beta reader, Nathan, for helping me with this chapter. And for anyone who's curious, I do plan to continue "Prank Warfare," I just wanted to finish this story first. OK, let's take it away.
Chapter Thirteen
Facing the Enemy
The gentle breeze was softly playing across his face as he looked out across the moonlit lake. Ginny was nestled in his arms and he felt utter contentment. They sat like that, wrapped in each other's arms, for an eternal instant. His eyes drifted down to her angelic face, bathed in the moonlight. He was happy here. Everything was right with the world and nothing could go wrong. He leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on her cheek. She sighed happily and snuggled closer. They watched the moon.
At first he couldn't place from where his unease had originated. All he knew was that the feeling of happiness and contentment of just seconds ago had disappeared. Then he noticed that the stars were moving. Not in their normal, nightly motions, but they seemed to be . . . falling? Yes, that's what they were doing. It was an eerily beautiful sight. He was about to mention it to Gin when he caught sight of the moon. It, too, had started to fall. Fast. He was bewildered and scared. He turned to Gin. "What's happening?"
She looked so sad. Tears were forming in her eyes, as she moved away from him and stood up. "I have to go." She didn't look happy about it.
"Why?" He couldn't understand what was going on.
"The time has come." It was the kind of pronouncement that only works as an explanation in dreams. She leaned over and placed a kiss on his forehead. "I love you Harry."
He had so many other questions he wanted to ask, but everything started to fade. She disappeared and he was surrounded by darkness and snoring. Snoring?
Harry blinked a few times. He'd just had a dream about . . . something important? Yeah, that was a good guess. Gin had been in it, though, that much he was relatively certain about. He allowed his eyes to close as he thought of her. He hadn't seen as much of her as he'd wanted to this past week. Too much going on and, what with their very different schedules, well, he missed her. So, to make it up to her, he was going to take her on a picnic this weekend. No matter what. Come Voldemort or high water, he was going to do it.
He'd also toyed with the notion of asking her out. Ever since they'd admitted their feelings for one another, he'd wanted to make it official. He could understand Ginny's reasons for holding off, but quite frankly this limbo of 'sort of friends, sort of more' was driving him mad. Her kisses drive me mad. He sighed, allowing himself to remember the kisses they had shared. If you asked him, they hadn't shared enough.
Anyway, now that some time had passed, and Ron was starting to come around, well, maybe she would be receptive to the idea. He could hope.
He opened his eyes again. He really wasn't all that tired anymore, and something about the dream he'd just had was keeping him awake. It wasn't that he could remember it, it was just that some part of him was keeping his whole body awake and alert. Maybe I'll go see if I can find Gin. He moved to sit up when he felt something move on his chest. Instinctively, his hand reached for it, and connected with parchment.
Now very confused, he grabbed his wand and muttered, "Lumos."
A soft light filled the space around him, and he squinted, momentarily pained by the light. Once he could see, he looked down and saw that he held a note. From Gin.
"Oh no," he whispered, feeling the color drain from his face. He re-read it, hardly believing what he had read.
Dear Harry,
I've had a disturbing possibility (what my book calls a dream about the future) about Voldemort. I've gone to face him. I suppose you, Ron, and Hermione will want to come after me (though I really wish you wouldn't), so I'll tell you where I think he might be: Azkaban.
Just in case I never get a chance tell you, I love you with all my heart. Maybe if we get through this, you and I could go out on a date? Well, let's make it through this first.
All My Love,
Ginny.
Without waiting a moment longer, Harry leapt off his bed and pushed the curtains of Ron's bed aside. "Ron!" he yelled as he shook his friend.
Ron's eyes snapped open. "What?!" he asked, sounding scared and groggy.
"Ginny's gone," Harry replied, trying to keep the panic out of his voice.
"What?" Obviously Ron was a little slow after just waking up.
"Ginny's gone," he repeated, not succeeding in sounding calm. "Read this," he added, throwing the note at him. He quickly grabbed his wand and extinguished his light, then ran around grabbing his Invisibility Cloak, his broom, and a cloak to keep him warm. He looked back at Ron, whose face had gone stark.
"I'm going after her. You get Hermione, and then the two of you go get Dumbledore and the others."
This declaration seemed to snap Ron back to the present. His head snapped up, his eyes full of worry, anger, and determination. "I'm going with you."
"Look, Ron--"
"Save it Harry. She's my sister. I know her better than you do. I'm going."
Harry didn't want to argue, and was actually glad his best friend would be with him. He nodded once. "Fine. Let's get Hermione. She can get Dumbledore."
Ron nodded and sprang into action, grabbing his wand, cloak and broom. Seconds later, the two were pounding down the stairs, running across the common room, and then racing up the girls' stairs. They burst into the Head Girl's room and woke her up.
"Wha--?"
"We don't have much time," Harry spoke quickly. "Ginny's run off to face Voldemort and we're going after her. She left a note." At the last bit, Ron tossed Hermione the piece of parchment and took over from Harry.
"Go get Dumbledore and tell him where we've gone. And don't argue!" he added, seeing Hermione's mouth open. She shook her head and sighed with frustration.
"Do either of you know where Azkaban is, or how to get to it?"
Harry and Ron looked at each other, each hoping the other knew the way.
She sighed at their obvious lack of knowledge. "Use the Intendo Charm and bring her back safely." Her face became a little graver. "Or, failing that, hold on until help arrives."
"Thanks Hermione," Harry responded, relieved and sincere. "We will."
"Yeah," Ron echoed. "We will."
She turned to face him. "I love you Ron. Please be careful."
Ron smiled a strained smile in response, then grabbed her hand, squeezing it slightly. "I love you too. Don't worry. Everything's going to be all right."
She smiled briefly and squeezed his hand.
A not-so-subtle throat clearing from Harry prompted Ron to drop her hand, and then the two of them left as quickly as they had come.
They ran through the castle--fortunately catching no sight of Filch--until they reached the main doors, which the flung open. Once outside, they quickly pointed their wands at their brooms and muttered, "Intendus Azkaban." Then they mounted their brooms and took off into the night.
As they left Hogwarts far behind, Harry couldn't help but wonder what had possessed Ginny to do something so mad.
***
Her eyes scanned over the horizon and she wondered, not for the first time, if maybe she should just turn back. But then her dream would come back to her in painful clarity--the sound of Harry's lifeless body hitting the earth, the way her head had dropped, the sound of her own voice acquiescing to Voldemort--and she knew that she had to do this. The worst part about the possibility had been giving in to Voldemort. She could still feel the way her head had dropped, all of her courage and bravery leaving her in the face of what seemed to be a hopeless situation. She shivered slightly, then gritted her teeth in determination. She was brave, she was courageous--she was a Gryffindor! I can face this!
Good, because here it comes.
Azkaban had appeared suddenly on the horizon, a shadowy apparition barely distinguishable in the night. Pressing herself forward, she urged her broom to go even faster.
The large fortress seemed to rise out of the ground, which did absolutely nothing to calm her racing heart, or to dry her sweaty palms. She could hear the ocean now, the waves crashing violently on the bluffs to the west of the infamous prison.
About half a mile away, she brought herself down to the ground. She took a few steadying breaths, performed the Occultus Spell, then squared her shoulders and began walking.
***
Harry and Ron had been flying for nearly forty-five minutes, and there was still no sign of Ginny, though they could just make out the prison on the horizon. She's probably already there, Harry realized. The thought didn't make him feel any better.
It was another ten minutes before they were close enough to land. Once they had, they were both silent for a moment, looking around to see if they could find Ginny. She was nowhere to be seen.
Harry stepped closer to Ron and covered them both with the Invisibility Cloak. Neither spoke as they made the trek towards the prison.
The walk seemed to take forever, but they finally reached the outer walls of the fortress. It was while they were walking around the perimeter that they saw the large gathering of Death Eaters. In the middle was Voldemort. He was obviously speaking, but Harry and Ron were outside of hearing range. They remained silent, creeping closer and closer. They could hear what he was saying.
" . . . has come to us."
Harry's stomach lurched. He knows! Before he could begin to wonder just what it was that Voldemort knew, he heard a soft pop and saw, to his dismay, that Ginny had become visible and was striding purposefully towards the gathering of Dark Wizards. Harry watched with growing horror and fear as she stopped, her wand gripped in her hand, then spoke. "I've come to face you Voldemort."
Whatever was said in response to this was lost as he felt Ron jump forward, intent on getting to Ginny. Harry grabbed onto Ron, just barely managing to keep Ron under the Cloak. Much as he wanted to go after Ginny, Harry felt it was better to wait for Hermione, Dumbledore, and the others.
"What are you doing? Let me go!" Ron hissed, struggling to break free of Harry's grip.
"No!" Harry whispered frantically, "we have to wait for the others!"
"We can't just let her face You-Know-Who alone!" Ron replied, desperation lacing his words. "What if they don't get here in time!?"
"We'll worry about that when the time comes," he whispered in response, his time implying in no uncertain terms that Ron had better shut up before he got them discovered. It was too late.
"Take that cloak off now, you two. I doubt you'll have any further use for it."
Harry and Ron turned around slowly. There was Lucius Malfoy, wand trained on them. Harry slumped. Things just keep getting better and better.
Harry quietly removed the Cloak from around them, and then they were led into the circle of Death Eaters where they were met by the sight of Ginny being held by two of the Death Eaters and Harry's arch nemesis--Voldemort.
Voldemort eyed the two of them, and Harry could feel his scar explode with pain. He winced, and his eyes narrowed, but he kept himself standing, glaring defiantly at Voldemort.
"So," Voldemort began quietly, a hissing quality to his voice, "you have come, Harry Potter." He seemed to notice Ron for the first time, hardly giving him a glance before dismissing him. "Crabbe, Goyle, hold the other." Two hulking figures under dark hoods roughly grabbed Ron from behind, holding him while he struggled to get away. Harry, much as he wanted to help his friend, did not dare turn away from his enemy.
"So, Harry Potter, you have come to rescue the Turner. How touching," Voldemort hissed mockingly. Harry winced slightly as the pain increased briefly, but held his ground nonetheless. He remained quiet and impassive, unwilling to let Voldemort needle him further. Unfortunately, he was the only one who remained silent.
"Leave him alone!" Ginny screamed. Harry's stomach plummeted as he saw Voldemort turn his attention to her.
"Perhaps, girl, you were never taught that it is rude to interrupt a conversation in which you are not a participant," Voldemort said coldly. "You should be taught to hold your tongue. Release her," he commanded the two Death Eaters holding her. They threw her to the ground, but she stood, brushed herself off, and faced Voldemort with her chin raised.
Harry knew what was coming next, and he tried to catch her eye, to warn her, but she wisely kept her eyes focused on Voldemort. But Voldemort brought his wand to bear quickly. "Crucio!"
Ginny fell to the ground, screaming in agony, and Harry wanted nothing more than to run to her and to stop the pain. And suddenly, he was running and skidding to a halt by her squirming body. She was still screaming, thrashing back and forth, and Harry could feel his anger grow as he watched her suffer. Suddenly, she stopped moving, though she was quietly whimpering. "Get up girl," Voldemort commanded in a deadly whisper.
Harry heard her whimpers quiet, and saw determination enter her eyes at the sound of Voldemort's voice. She struggled to her feet, brushing off the help that Harry offered her. She faced Voldemort, her head held high, though Harry could see that her body was shaking with the effort. He quickly touched her shoulder, trying to communicate that he was there for her and that he loved her and that she should remain silent. He could see that she glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, and a ghost of a smile flitted across her face, before her eyes returned to the enemy. He wanted to hold her, and be strong for her, but it was not meant to be. "Separate them," Voldemort commanded, "and take his wand."
Before he quite knew what was happening, two pairs of hands had grabbed him by the robes and hauled him away from Ginny, somehow snatching the wand he held in his hands. He felt helpless as he watched Voldemort advance on Ginny. "Perform a Turn."
He tried to communicate to her not to give in. "No," she replied, her voice surprisingly strong.
Voldemort narrowed his slits at her, and Harry could feel the pain in his scar increase, causing him to see stars. "Do it," Voldemort hissed softly, and Harry was barely able to catch it.
"Never," he heard her say, though he was sure he caught the little quiver in her voice.
"Never?" Softly said, but the wrong answer meant death for someone.
"Never," she answered again, and Harry knew he heard real fear in her voice.
"Perhaps you need the proper motivation." Voldemort turned
his attention to Harry. "Release him," he commanded, and the
two Death Eaters that were holding him sent him sprawling to the ground.
As he was standing up, he thought he heard Ginny choke a little. He looked
up at her, and saw that she was pale and even shakier than before. He glanced
back at Voldemort and saw his wand trained on him. Then he heard numerous
popping noises. That was when all hell broke loose.