^.^ Hi hi everyone! Yup it¡¦s the annoying little me again here to bother you before you read! ^.^ I¡¦m terribly sorry for making you wait soooo long but it¡¦s summer and there is soooo much things to do! And people stop reading¡Kwell that¡¦s not important cuz you are reading now so you are nice! Please review (cheer me on even if you think it¡¦s bad k?)! Many more chapters to come! And I would like to thank all my supporters (all the peoplz who reviewed and/or read my story) Okay *sigh* Here goes the Chapter you¡¦ve all been waiting for! (Drum rolls) ENJOY!
Umm¡K You can start now¡Kwhy are you all looking at me like that? OH! Almost forgot! Disclaimer! Yes¡Kyes. *Clear throat* Disclaimer: Everything you recognize belongs to the noble lady¡Kokay¡K the wonderful author¡Kno, no, no¡KThe Best Author person¡Kthat¡¦s it!¡KMs. JK Rowling! Okay! All done! Now you can start! ^.^
Chapter 10: Decisions
The days have passed ever so quickly soon it was the Easter break. This year all the students were sent home except for Ron and Hermione. There were no joyful celebration or cheery voices. The school was melancholy and hollow, not even the occasional sunshine could warm up the cold spirit of the place. Dumbledore has arranged for Ron and Hermione to stay in the hospital wing. They were told not to roam around the castle by them selves. Ron ad Hermione didn¡¦t care, the only two places they are ever at were by Harry's bedside or in the library. Harry only got worse and worse as the days go on. Most of the time he was unconscious. Sirius spends more and more of his time wondering, in search of the cure for his beloved godson.
***
¡§It¡¦s so quiet here it¡¦s starting to creep me out!¡¨ Ron said to Hermione on their way to the library one day.
¡§It¡¦s too quiet for my taste too.¡¨ Hermione shivered looking around the dimly lit corridors. In the past years this corridor would be decorated with smiles and saturated with laughter. Now the only things in here to greet them are the dim lights from the high windows and scarce creeks of the door hinges. Unexpectedly out of the corner of her eyes Hermione saw a ripple in the air in front of the double door to the Great Hall.
¡§Did you see that?¡¨ Hermione asked Ron who was also staring in disbelief at the door, furiously rubbing his eyes.
¡§It¡¦s defiantly not a trick of light.¡¨ Ron asked as the air rippled again. ¡§What do you suppose it is?¡¨
¡§I think is a protection charm. It hides what ever behind it to make it look natural.¡¨ Hermione observed, ¡§It¡¦s like some kind of hologram.¡¨
¡§What¡¦s a holo¡Kwhat you might call it.¡¨ Ro was puzzled by her explanation.
¡§Never mind. It¡¦s like the thing at Kings Cross station at the ticket barrier.¡¨ Hermione explained as she stepped towards the Great Hall door, Ron followed. The air around them quivered as they got closer and closer to the protection. Hermione reached out and reach for the door, but instead of feeling the hard wood beneath her hands she felt space. Hermione looked at her hand, as she thought her hand had disappeared. Slowly she walked through the quivering wall, beckoning Ron to follow. When they passed through the protection they saw another set of doors that lead to the Great Hall. This time when Hermione reached out for it she touched the cold metal handle. Hermione opened the door a crack and peered inside. The Great Hall was filled with grown up Witches and Wizards.
¡§You can¡¦t bring the students back!¡¨ Fudge¡¦s angry voice cried out through the crowd. Ron and Hermione could see him red faced sitting at the high table next to Dumbledore. ¡§It¡¦s just making it easier for the Dark Lord to do his work!¡¨
¡§It¡¦s safer for the children to return.¡¨ Dumbledore said rather calmly. ¡§Hogwarts is the only safe place for them.¡¨
¡§Minister, Albus is right.¡¨ Professor McGonagall chimed in. ¡§We don¡¦t know when he will strike! It¡¦s easier to protect them when they are all together!¡¨
¡§But we must not panic the public!¡¨ Another voice protested. Hermione reckon he was also form the Ministry.
¡§Why don¡¦t we tell them due to a special program at the school Hogwarts would be closed?¡¨ Another suggested.
¡§But if we want to fight off the Dark Lord and his army we will need everyone!¡¨ Professor Sprout pointed out. Soon everyone started to speak at once.
¡§Silence!¡¨ Fudge raised his hand everyone in the room fell silent. ¡§We won¡¦t release it to the public, but all who needs to know will know.¡¨ Another murmur spread through the room.
¡§But what about the children from families that will be fighting. They need guaranties of protections for their children!¡¨ Sirius¡¦s voice rang out over the crowd.
¡§Why don¡¦t we let the children speak for them selves?¡¨ Dumbledore pointed at the Great Hall door. The door opened causing Ron and Hermione stumbled in.
¡§We¡¦re sorry Professor.¡¨ Hermione immediately apologized. ¡§We sort of¡K well¡K just stumbled in.¡¨
¡§That¡¦s quit alright Ms. Granger.¡¨ Dumbledore gestured them to the center of the room. They stepped gingerly into the center of the room feeling incredibly small in the middle of all the adults. ¡§We were just seeking for your opinion¡¨
¡§We cannot ask for their opinion!¡¨ Fudge protested. ¡§They are children.¡¨
¡§We are disguising affairs that affects them the most why shouldn¡¦t they have a word in our discussion?¡¨ Remus Lupin stood up. Fudge was lost of words. ¡§Ron, Hermione please do speak.¡¨
¡§I think all the students should return to Hogwarts.¡¨ Ron started.
¡§Yes.¡¨ Hermione added, ¡§the most dangerous place is often the safest place. I know your concerns Minister. But Professor Dumbledore is right we can¡¦t do much to defend ourselves when we are alone, but strength in number. Together we would be able to defend ourselves even with out adults. And we should take in the younger children as well from the families that are going off to fight. We would be able to protect everyone and there would be more adults out there. It would give us a better chance of victory! ¡¨
¡§I think the girl is right!¡¨ a witch from the council stood up.
¡§All who agree please stand with us!¡¨ Lupin stood up. Soon everyone in the room was standing. All except Fudge.
¡§It would make the children an easy target!¡¨ Fudge protested in disbelief. ¡§Most of you have children of your own would you like your children to be wiped out all at once? Do you think your child can face up to more than one Death Eater?¡¨ Several people¡¦s opinion seemed to waver and several people sat down.
¡§If you are worried we can have adults with us to help! We would be able to stand up to Death Eaters!¡¨ Ron added hastily seeing all the reaction of people.
¡§After what happened last year do you really think Hogwarts is the safest place?¡¨ Fudge quickly shouted back.
¡§What happened last year¡K has nothing to do with Hogwarts!¡¨ a voice at the entrance of the Great Hall got all their attention. Every head in the hall turned, every pair of eyes landed upon the small boy at the doorway.
¡§Harry! What are you doing out of bed?¡¨ Hermione rushed over to where Harry was leaning against the wall to support his weight.
¡§With out the full force possible¡K out against Voldemort¡K it would be impossible to win. *Cough, Cough* He¡¦s got a lot of dark creatures on his side¡K You must take the chance of letting us children defend ourselves¡K or *Cough, Cough* it would be a great slaughter on both sides.¡¨ Cold sweat was streaming down Harry's brow. His breath came in gasps. With out Ron and Hermione to hold him up he would collapse on to the floor. Harry's vision was blurring, but he can¡¦t give up. He has to prevent what he saw in his dream from happening.
Hermione gazed at Harry worriedly. She understood that this was something that he has to do. Otherwise he would never get out of bed. The only thing is Hermione don¡¦t know how long he will hold out. Hermione could see Sirius and Lupin¡¦s worried face, but they stayed put in their spots. They seemed to understand too, that this is the only way. Her eyes skimmed quickly in the crowd, searching every face for expression of agreement. What Harry did seemed to have touched many of their audience¡¦s hart. One by one everyone, even Fudge, stood up.
¡§It has been decided.¡¨ Harry heard Dumbledore say in the distance. He couldn¡¦t see, everything was way to blurry. Harry could no longer stay conscious. What did they decide on? Did his presence persuade them? Those were his last thoughts before he was lost in the depths of complete blackness.
***
Ron and Hermione stared down at their friend who lay still on the bed, cold sweat trickling down his cheeks. His lips were blue and trembling, his hands cold as ice, his eyes tightly shut, and his face paler than the white sheets. The only signs of life were the quiet gasps of air and the small and abrupt movements of his chest.
¡§He¡¦s got a high fever and I can¡¦t make the temperature fall back to normal.¡¨ They heard Madam Pomfrey, her voice filled with distressed; explain to Sirius, Lupin Professor McGonagall and Dumbledore who had just arrived.
¡§It¡¦ alright Poppy. You did your best.¡¨ Professor McGonagall laid a hand on Madam Pomfrey¡¦s shoulder. She turned, took one looked at Harry and tears flowed out of her eyes. Sirius knelt by the bed weeping, holding on to Harry's hands. Lupin just watched his friend cry not knowing how to comfort him. Dumbledore stood a bit apart from the rest looking at the group. The twinkles had gone from his eyes. Even he didn¡¦t know how this would end.
Hermione and Ron were scared. They¡¦ve felt fear before, many times. Like when they faced the troll in the first year, in the Forbidden Forest at night, and many other times, but it¡¦s different now. Their fear is not for themselves but for their friend. It¡¦s true that Harry had indeed got them all in trouble more times than Hermione can count, but he always manage to get them out of trouble. Now Harry's in trouble and he¡¦s all alone. Hermione once read in a book that when someone is unconscious they are in another dimension trying to over come the darkness and return to consciousness. She whished she could be there with him, wherever he is, and help him or at least be there to make him feel less lonely. She knew Ron, next to her, was thinking the same. At that very thought she felt something warm, glowing in the center of her chest. The Stone on her necklace was giving off blinding light the colors swirling together rapidly. Ron¡¦s Stone was reacting the same way. The light grew brighter and brighter till it swallowed them.