~ The
End of Rivalry ~
Disclaimer: All characters belong to J.K.
Rowling. I own only the plot and the story. But I wish I owned Harry (I love
him, he's my best friend) "One Step Closer" belongs to Linkin Park.
Some lines in the story are borrowed from
" Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban."
Author's Note: I dedicate this story to my friend Jenny
(aka the "real" Angel Starr) who loves Linkin Park, as well as my
best best bud Grace--who introduced me to Linkin Park in the first place. Also
to my reviewers( thank you so much, although I'm not sure why you'd waste your
time reading my crappy stories when you could be out having a life.J) Luv to you all!
Chapter
Two: Over the Edge
Harry
slowly walked down the deserted Hogwarts corridors, not really paying attention
to where he was going. It was two days before the seventh year graduation, and
most of the students were either at Hogsmeade enjoying their last school days
or hanging out by the Great Lake with their friends.
Letting out
a sad sigh, Harry turned the corner and headed for the stairs. There was
nothing to do in the castle, as nearly the whole school was outside. But Harry
didn't feel like going to Hogsmeade, or sitting by the Great Lake watching the
Giant Squid poke one of its tentacles out of the water. All he wanted to do was
be with Ginny. His girlfriend. Actually, she was part of the reason why Harry
was suddenly feeling so depressed. They had only been together for about five
months, and now they were going to be separated until Ginny graduated. But what
about the twelve months that they were going to be apart? What would happen
then? Would their relationship be affected by this?
Harry shook
his head sadly. It was all his fault. If only he hadn't been so stupid as to
ignore his feelings for Ginny until it was nearly too late. If only he could
have paid more attention to Ginny and not ignored her for practically all his
time at Hogwarts. If only…but it was no use. Harry knew he couldn't change the
past, no matter how much he wanted to. He would just have to deal with it and
make the best of it. But how? Who knew what sorts of things could happen in a
few measly months? What if Ginny met someone else--and decided she liked that
person better than Harry? Harry swallowed hard and tried to push those thoughts
out of his mind. He was being stupid. How could he think of Ginny in such a
negative way? She would never do a thing like that--she would remain true to
him--forever. Just as he would do for her.
Harry
reached the stairway and started up the creaky old stairs ( remembering to jump
over the fake step that Neville always forgot to jump). He was so preoccupied
with all those worries and questions in his head that he didn't see Draco
Malfoy coming down the stairs and therefore ran right into him.
"
Potter! Watch where the hell you're going!" snapped Malfoy angrily,
rubbing his forehead. His pale face was curled into an ugly sneer.
Harry
looked blankly at him. " Oh, er--sorry," he said vaguely, then
continued up the stairs. Malfoy stared at him.
"
Sorry?" he repeated, looking aghast." That's it?"
Harry spun
around, confusion written on his face." What are you talking about?"
Malfoy
smirked. " I've never heard you say 'sorry' to me before. I reckon dating
that Weasley must have softened you up a bit."
At these
words, Harry felt his insides churn with anger. How dare Malfoy mention Ginny
in a time like this!
"
Leave Ginny out of this, Malfoy," he snarled.
" Oh
yeah? Who's going to make me?" Malfoy sneered.
"
Shove off, Malfoy. I don't have time for this," Harry said angrily. He
turned to go, but Malfoy grabbed his arm and pulled him back. Harry let out a
startled cry.
" Let
go of me!" he cried, trying to free himself. But Malfoy held a tight grip.
"
What's the hurry, Potter? Afraid your girlfriend's going to leave you if you're
not with her every single minute of the day?" He laughed. " But of
course, saintly Potter always does what he's told, doesn't he? You just love
showing off what a great a person you are, don't you?"
Harry
didn't answer. Instead, he looked down at his free arm and noticed that his
fist was clenched so tightly that his knuckles had turned white. His heart was
pounding, and his stomach was churning with mindless anger. It was a feeling so
strong that Harry had never experienced before. It made him feel as though he
were about to explode. But what was most frightening was that Harry's lightning
bolt scar, which had stopped hurting since he had destroyed Voldemort back in
his sixth year, had felt as though his head were on fire. Harry took a deep
breath and relaxed his hand.
I
cannot take this anymore
What's
wrong with me? Am I going insane? I almost exploded back there and almost hit
Malfoy! Harry's eyes grew wide and he stared at Malfoy, whose face was
still in a sneer. Malfoy's expression changed and he smiled meanly, as if he
knew exactly what Harry was thinking.
I'm
saying everything I've said before
" What's the matter, Potter? You look
like you just saw a ghost." He laughed again, but this time the sound
seemed to echo in the vast deserted corridor, making the laugh sound three
times louder then it really was. Harry clasped a hand to his forehead, wobbling
on the spot. He felt as though he were about to faint.
All
these words they make no sense
I find
bliss in ignorance
What the hell is wrong with me? Why am
I feeling this way? Bewildered questions ran through Harry's mind. He
struck out his free hand to steady himself from falling.
"
Malfoy, let go of me. Now," Harry said, in a voice unlike his.
Less
I hear the less you'll say
But you'll
find that out anyway
Just like
before…
"
Why? Can't Weasley wait a few minutes? Or is the time that you're not around
her too extreme for her to bear?" Malfoy sneered, grinning maliciously.
Harry felt
that sudden feeling of anger rush through him again. But this time, words ran
through his mind, like a song…
Everything you say to me
Takes me one step closer to the edge
And I'm about to break
I need a little room to breathe
Cause I'm one step closer to the edge
And I'm about to break
" I said, leave Ginny out of this!"
He said angrily." I'm warning you, Malfoy, you say one more thing about
her and I'll--" he broke off, suddenly unable to go on. The pain in his
head was too strong.
" You'll what, Potter? Get your friend Weasel to pick
a fight with me? Ha!" Malfoy scoffed, sarcasm dripping in his voice.
Harry resisted an incredible urge to punch Malfoy in the
jaw. But the pressure was great;his head was running with thoughts and words
that didn't seem to make any sense. It was as if Harry's conscience was trying
to tell him something. But Harry didn't want to listen to his conscience. He
wanted Malfoy to keep his big mouth shut and let him go. In fact, Harry felt
like disappearing on the spot so he wouldn't have to deal with this. With all
his worries and anxiety about Ginny, Harry felt slightly hysterical. It all
came down to one conclusion; he just couldn't take Malfoy's crap anymore. He
was about to break.
I find the answers aren't so clear
Wish I could find a way to disappear
All these thoughts they make no sense
I find bliss in ignorance
Nothing seems to go away
Over and over again...
Everything you say to me
Takes me one step closer to the edge
And I'm about to break
I need a little room to breathe
Cause I'm one step closer to the edge
And I'm about to break
" Honestly, Potter,
I don't know why you're wasting your time with that riffraff. I would have
thought that the great Harry Potter would have better taste in friends--much
less a Mudblood and those Weasleys. I mean, what were you thinking when
you--"
" SHUT UP!"
Malfoy jumped back, completely unprepared for this
outburst. Harry was glaring at him, his green eyes burning with anger. It was
so sudden that for moment, Malfoy looked almost uneasy.
Shut up when I'm talking to you
Shut up
Shut up
SHUT UP!!!!!!!
" What did
you say to me, Potter?" He tried to sound as though nothing had happened,
but Harry could hear the fear in his voice.
" You heard me, you bastard," Harry said, in a
calmer voice than before,
" I told you to shut up
about Ginny, Ron, and Hermione! I'm sick and tired of hearing you make
fun if them. And as for why I chose them over you for my friends, it's because you're
beneath them."
The words stung Malfoy like an angry hornet, and he slowly
released his grip on Harry and backed away. But the look on his face was
evident in his feelings; he wasn't fazed by the remark. He smiled a little,
looking more sinister, more evil than ever before.
" Is that how you really feel, Potter?" Malfoy
said softly.
Harry nodded. His fists were clenched at his sides, but he
looked a little uncomfortable. Oh my god. Did I really just say that to
Malfoy? Was that really me talking, or the evil side of me? Would I really be
so heartless as to say that to anyone, even my archenemy?
"
No, wait, Malfoy--"
But Malfoy wouldn't let him finish.
" Well then, if that's how you feel about me, then
why not settle it out once and for all? You think I'm beneath your pathetic
little friends, and I beg to differ. How about a duel, tomorrow at midnight in
the trophy room? Then we'll see whose beneath the other."
Harry, already over the edge with anger, didn't stop to
think for the consequences. All he could think of was showing Malfoy how wrong
he was. Insulting Ginny and Ron, calling Hermione a Mudblood, it was all just
too much to take in.
" You're on," he replied.
Malfoy's lips curled up into a nasty grin.
" Are you sure you want to do this, Potter? I don't
know, I can't guarantee any survivors…" he trailed off, laughing
maliciously.
Harry didn't look fazed.
" Oh, I'm not
worried about that, Malfoy. We're not qualified wizards, we can't have a real
wizard's duel."
" Who said anything about a wizard's duel?"
Harry stared at him." What do you mean? What other
kind of nasty plan do you have stored in that sick mind of yours?"
Malfoy's smile grew wider.
" When I said duel, I meant a real duel. No magic.
Just man to man--or in your case, man to boy combat."
Harry laughed, a hollow sound.
" Yeah, that's right, I forgot you're too cowardly
to be a man, Malfoy. But that's ok. Duels with swords is fine with me." He
turned to leave, but then looked over his shoulder and added," Oh, and by
the way, Malfoy?"
" What?" Malfoy folded his arms and smirked.
" This time, let's just hope you don't chicken
out."
And with that, Harry walked up the stairs and disappeared
into the Gryffindor common room, leaving Malfoy standing by himself on the
stairs.
Malfoy stood there for a moment, staring at the spot
where Harry had last been. Oh, I won't chicken out Potter. Not this time.
And who knows, maybe tomorrow I can finally make you mine.
***