Well I see that you're back for more (thanks). ^__^
Ch.24- Making the Past
*Oliver's POV*
Oliver lay there with his eyes open waiting for the sun to announce the beginning of the next horrid day. A day without Sarah's warm smile to greet him. The sun was just a gentle reminder that Sarah was no longer there to enjoy its warmth. He got out of bed, and went to take a shower. He stood under the warm water hoping that it could (in some small way) wash away his grief. But as you know showers don't do that. He got out of the shower and grabbed a towel. He wiped the fog off of the mirror. He looked terrible, but what had he expected? He dried off, and got dressed. Someone had washed his clothes (so at least he didn't stink). He was starving, because he hadn't eaten anything except a little bread. He walked to the door, and found it difficult to open it. Not because it was locked, but because he still didn't want to admit that Sarah wasn't going to be there. After a few more tears he opened it. Passing by were students on their way to breakfast. They looked at him, and whispered to each other. "Look at him!" "Shh! He can hear you!" "Poor guy..." and so on. He tried his best to ignore them or at least block them out, but that is rather hard to do.
*Harry's POV*
Harry had the letter with him. The last letter. The last thing that he had to do for Sarah. The girl for whom he was eternally in debt. She had given her life for him, and all she wanted of him was to give out letters. He was walking to the Great Hall, and he saw Oliver. He ran to him. He had done this many times before, but that didn't make it any easier. Once something "big" (like this) you are the attention of the whole school.
*
He was almost in the Great Hall when Harry, Hermione, and Ron walked up to him. "You probably don't want to go in there alone." Oliver had a questioning look on his face, and opened the door. A sudden hush went about the room. Every eye was on them. They watched as they made there way to the Gryffindor table, and as they began to fix their plate. Hermione was blushing, Ron was throwing threatening looks at people who came by, Harry was playing with his food, and Oliver was looking around the room. Looking at every face that went by. Just to make sure that what had happened last night wasn't a bad dream. He was looking for Sarah. All he saw was unfamiliar and familiar faces, but not one belonging to her. He turned back around towards his plate.
He managed to eat some scrambled eggs, bacon, and a toast (a/n I don't know what they eat for breakfast, so they're eating what I eat). The whole time he was eating the Gryffindors were staring at him. It was like they were waiting for him to explode or go berserk. Harry and the others finished long before he had, and where watching.
Dumbledore stood up at the Head Table. "Excuse me. If I could have your attention please. I think that you all know what happened last night. And if it weren't for all of you I don't think that I would be standing before you today. So thank you. But that is not why I am talking to you... I am talking to you because of one of the bravest students that Hogwarts has ever seen is dead. Sarah Bellows of Gryffindor sacrificed herself for not just her friend, but the whole world. I have heard stories of what she did when the attack came, and I am proud to call her my pupil. You should also be proud of her, because she has given the students of Hogwarts a new day to live. We will be holding a memorial service for her tonight at 7:30, by the lake. I would appreciate it very much if you all came. I know that not all of you had the privilege of knowing her, but that shouldn't stop you from mourning the death of a fellow student. Due to the events of last night there will be no classes today. And I would like to ask you to stay away from the lake, because we will be setting up. Thank you." No one made a sound, not even applause for the classes being canceled. They finished eating quietly, and made their way to wherever they were going.
*Draco's POV*
He had walked into breakfast late, because he knew that everyone would feel the need to stare at him. He the "other guy" and the bad guy. He understood that someone needed to be blamed for what happened to Sarah, but when people of your own house shun you that's saying something. The Slytherins had shunned him! The mudblood hating Slytherins! He saw the evil looks that people gave him as he walked through the hall. It wasn't even any of their business anyway. He felt as though the whole world was watching every move that he made. He felt exposed, and he felt angry because of it. This was something between Oliver, Sarah, and himself. No one had cared about it just weeks before, because no one had known. And even if they had then they wouldn't have cared, because they didn't know Sarah or Oliver. Things seem to go like this for him all the time. He finds something good, and it always turns bad. He just had rotten luck I suppose.
*
Oliver rose to leave, and Harry followed suit. Ron and Hermione were getting to their feet, but Harry shook his head. They sat beck down.
He walked with Oliver back to his room. Oliver invited Harry in. "No thank you. I have something for you." He handed him the letter. Oliver took it and questioningly looked at Harry's face. "It was something that Sarah had asked me to give you." Oliver held the letter to his chest. "Thank you, Harry." Harry gave him a small smile. "Anything for Sarah. I'll leave you alone."
Oliver went inside, and sat down on his bed. He set the letter in front of him. He was contemplating on if he should read it then. But as you can imagine he had to read it then. He tore open the letter greedily.
Dearest Oliver,
I know that this must be tough for you, but you are the toughest guy I know. I have heard stories of your Quidditch games (here at Hogwarts) from Fred and George. They had some pretty interesting things to say about you. I have seen the House Cup (because I had to scrub it all night) that you worked so hard to get. And I am extremely proud of you. From what I have heard and seen you are very fortunate to be alive, period.
I have written, and rewritten, this letter so many times trying to get this right. So here goes. There are so many things that I have to explain to you. First and foremost I think that I should tell you what I have to do.
Yes, this is something that I have to do. I know that it will be hard for you to understand that this is something that I have to do. That must seem preposterous and absurd, but it is what I was made to do. Do you believe in destiny or fate? Do you believe that you have one? Draco asked me these questions earlier this year, and I didn't have an answer for him. I do now. Yes I do. These questions haunted me everyday. They haunted my every breath, all of my dreams, and my thoughts. I had dreams of two people in the woods, and they were dueling. One of them was about to kill the other, and someone jumped in front of him. It took me a while to figure out who they were, but I pieced it together. Stories came in everyday about the stronghold that You-Know-Who was getting. I began to feel the need to protect Harry. So gradually I put 2 and 2 together, and I was the answer. I would save Harry.
Another thing that I would like to explain to you is that along the road that led me to my destiny I met some very dear people. People that I hold very dear to my heart. My parents, of course. Harry, Hermione, Ron because they were the first friends that I made while at Hogwarts. You, because you showed me what it was to love someone. You are very special to me. I know that it maybe hard for you to accept that Draco is also one of the people that I hold dear to me. He showed me that I had a destiny. He led me to it. I'm not saying that he told me to do this (because he doesn't know), but I'm saying that he gave my life purpose. Please don't take that the wrong way, because you gave me a reason to live. But I loved Draco.
I feel that I need to explain my actions. I loved you because you loved me. I loved Draco because he needed it, and I felt the need to give it to him. I loved you both in very different ways. I loved you first because you are very cute and then after I got to know you I loved you because you were and are a beautiful person. Draco always had the ability to be a beautiful person, but he had never had anyone bring that out in him. I did that for him, and he probably doesn't realize what I have done but he will later in life.
I guess that you could say I was trying to bring out the best in him. I never intended on falling in love with him, or he with me. But that part, that beautiful part that he showed only to me, I loved. He was kind and caring. He listened to me, and wanted to make me happy. That was a change, instead of me worrying if he was happy, he was worrying if I was happy. I know that probably want to kill him, but please give him a chance. He will be a good person, but if you hate him I fear that that beautiful part of him will wither and die.
If you hate anyone hate me. After all I did leave you. I did love someone else. I hurt you, not Draco. Don't get me wrong I love you, but not the way I loved Draco. I couldn't possibly choose between the two of you, because that's not fair to anyone. Someone will end up hurt. If I chose you then Draco would have become bitter, and become hard inside. If I chose him then you would have hated me, and I loved you. I would have been unhappy, and so would everyone else. I know that this may discourage you, but I never intended on hurting anyone.
I am crying as I write this, so I apologize if it gets smeared.
As I write I find more to say, things that I can't possibly put into words. Things that only you and I would understand. Things that are impossible to express expect in the simplest of ways. Like telling you again that I love you. I know that that phrase must have lost its meaning coming from me, but I am being very sincere.
I know that it will be difficult to think back on the good things that we have done together. The bad are always fresh on one's mind. Please, don't let my faults as a person bring you down. Instead let them give you an example, of what not to do. Don't be bitter.
This is the hardest thing that I have ever had to do. Oliver, I want you to forget about me. I know that they will make some kind of hero out of me, but you must move on. You have to forget that I even existed. I know that this must sound absolutely ridiculous, but you have to. I need you to.
This must seem really hard to do, but it is something that you must. You made my life complete. But now I am gone, and you are still here. If you can't forget about me completely then just leave me in the past. Your past. I don't want my memory to effect any part of your future. My life though it was short, is complete. There is nothing left for me to do (or at least that I was meant to do). I may sound depressed, but I have never felt this much joy before. I need you, you of all people, to understand that this is what I have to do. You know that once my mind is made up about something there is no changing it. I am so sorry to do this to you. I feel terrible.
There is only one thing that I ask of you, that I beg of you. Please don't dwell on the past.
Forever Yours,
Sarah Bellows
Oliver had tears in his eyes. He knew that what she had said was right, but that would be so dreadfully hard to do. He reread the letter, and he wiped his eyes. He folded the letter, and gathered up the tattered envelope and put them in his robe pocket. He would wait to put her in his past, because he still had that memorial service. He loved her, and he always would, but he had to go on with life. For Sarah.
Notes- Well, I like that chapter. I actually enjoyed writing Draco and his letter better. The way he responded. I want you to notice the mood change in Oliver. At the beginning he was melancholy and depressed, and at the end he was acting a little more like a passive attitude. Not necessarily passive, but more sanguine (just in case you didn't know that means optimistic or hopeful). Thanks for the reviews. I am really wanting to get this story done by the end of the week (so keep your fingers crossed).
Juvenus- I'm sorry you miss her... ;__; (in case you couldn't tell it's crying)
Ch.24- Making the Past
*Oliver's POV*
Oliver lay there with his eyes open waiting for the sun to announce the beginning of the next horrid day. A day without Sarah's warm smile to greet him. The sun was just a gentle reminder that Sarah was no longer there to enjoy its warmth. He got out of bed, and went to take a shower. He stood under the warm water hoping that it could (in some small way) wash away his grief. But as you know showers don't do that. He got out of the shower and grabbed a towel. He wiped the fog off of the mirror. He looked terrible, but what had he expected? He dried off, and got dressed. Someone had washed his clothes (so at least he didn't stink). He was starving, because he hadn't eaten anything except a little bread. He walked to the door, and found it difficult to open it. Not because it was locked, but because he still didn't want to admit that Sarah wasn't going to be there. After a few more tears he opened it. Passing by were students on their way to breakfast. They looked at him, and whispered to each other. "Look at him!" "Shh! He can hear you!" "Poor guy..." and so on. He tried his best to ignore them or at least block them out, but that is rather hard to do.
*Harry's POV*
Harry had the letter with him. The last letter. The last thing that he had to do for Sarah. The girl for whom he was eternally in debt. She had given her life for him, and all she wanted of him was to give out letters. He was walking to the Great Hall, and he saw Oliver. He ran to him. He had done this many times before, but that didn't make it any easier. Once something "big" (like this) you are the attention of the whole school.
*
He was almost in the Great Hall when Harry, Hermione, and Ron walked up to him. "You probably don't want to go in there alone." Oliver had a questioning look on his face, and opened the door. A sudden hush went about the room. Every eye was on them. They watched as they made there way to the Gryffindor table, and as they began to fix their plate. Hermione was blushing, Ron was throwing threatening looks at people who came by, Harry was playing with his food, and Oliver was looking around the room. Looking at every face that went by. Just to make sure that what had happened last night wasn't a bad dream. He was looking for Sarah. All he saw was unfamiliar and familiar faces, but not one belonging to her. He turned back around towards his plate.
He managed to eat some scrambled eggs, bacon, and a toast (a/n I don't know what they eat for breakfast, so they're eating what I eat). The whole time he was eating the Gryffindors were staring at him. It was like they were waiting for him to explode or go berserk. Harry and the others finished long before he had, and where watching.
Dumbledore stood up at the Head Table. "Excuse me. If I could have your attention please. I think that you all know what happened last night. And if it weren't for all of you I don't think that I would be standing before you today. So thank you. But that is not why I am talking to you... I am talking to you because of one of the bravest students that Hogwarts has ever seen is dead. Sarah Bellows of Gryffindor sacrificed herself for not just her friend, but the whole world. I have heard stories of what she did when the attack came, and I am proud to call her my pupil. You should also be proud of her, because she has given the students of Hogwarts a new day to live. We will be holding a memorial service for her tonight at 7:30, by the lake. I would appreciate it very much if you all came. I know that not all of you had the privilege of knowing her, but that shouldn't stop you from mourning the death of a fellow student. Due to the events of last night there will be no classes today. And I would like to ask you to stay away from the lake, because we will be setting up. Thank you." No one made a sound, not even applause for the classes being canceled. They finished eating quietly, and made their way to wherever they were going.
*Draco's POV*
He had walked into breakfast late, because he knew that everyone would feel the need to stare at him. He the "other guy" and the bad guy. He understood that someone needed to be blamed for what happened to Sarah, but when people of your own house shun you that's saying something. The Slytherins had shunned him! The mudblood hating Slytherins! He saw the evil looks that people gave him as he walked through the hall. It wasn't even any of their business anyway. He felt as though the whole world was watching every move that he made. He felt exposed, and he felt angry because of it. This was something between Oliver, Sarah, and himself. No one had cared about it just weeks before, because no one had known. And even if they had then they wouldn't have cared, because they didn't know Sarah or Oliver. Things seem to go like this for him all the time. He finds something good, and it always turns bad. He just had rotten luck I suppose.
*
Oliver rose to leave, and Harry followed suit. Ron and Hermione were getting to their feet, but Harry shook his head. They sat beck down.
He walked with Oliver back to his room. Oliver invited Harry in. "No thank you. I have something for you." He handed him the letter. Oliver took it and questioningly looked at Harry's face. "It was something that Sarah had asked me to give you." Oliver held the letter to his chest. "Thank you, Harry." Harry gave him a small smile. "Anything for Sarah. I'll leave you alone."
Oliver went inside, and sat down on his bed. He set the letter in front of him. He was contemplating on if he should read it then. But as you can imagine he had to read it then. He tore open the letter greedily.
Dearest Oliver,
I know that this must be tough for you, but you are the toughest guy I know. I have heard stories of your Quidditch games (here at Hogwarts) from Fred and George. They had some pretty interesting things to say about you. I have seen the House Cup (because I had to scrub it all night) that you worked so hard to get. And I am extremely proud of you. From what I have heard and seen you are very fortunate to be alive, period.
I have written, and rewritten, this letter so many times trying to get this right. So here goes. There are so many things that I have to explain to you. First and foremost I think that I should tell you what I have to do.
Yes, this is something that I have to do. I know that it will be hard for you to understand that this is something that I have to do. That must seem preposterous and absurd, but it is what I was made to do. Do you believe in destiny or fate? Do you believe that you have one? Draco asked me these questions earlier this year, and I didn't have an answer for him. I do now. Yes I do. These questions haunted me everyday. They haunted my every breath, all of my dreams, and my thoughts. I had dreams of two people in the woods, and they were dueling. One of them was about to kill the other, and someone jumped in front of him. It took me a while to figure out who they were, but I pieced it together. Stories came in everyday about the stronghold that You-Know-Who was getting. I began to feel the need to protect Harry. So gradually I put 2 and 2 together, and I was the answer. I would save Harry.
Another thing that I would like to explain to you is that along the road that led me to my destiny I met some very dear people. People that I hold very dear to my heart. My parents, of course. Harry, Hermione, Ron because they were the first friends that I made while at Hogwarts. You, because you showed me what it was to love someone. You are very special to me. I know that it maybe hard for you to accept that Draco is also one of the people that I hold dear to me. He showed me that I had a destiny. He led me to it. I'm not saying that he told me to do this (because he doesn't know), but I'm saying that he gave my life purpose. Please don't take that the wrong way, because you gave me a reason to live. But I loved Draco.
I feel that I need to explain my actions. I loved you because you loved me. I loved Draco because he needed it, and I felt the need to give it to him. I loved you both in very different ways. I loved you first because you are very cute and then after I got to know you I loved you because you were and are a beautiful person. Draco always had the ability to be a beautiful person, but he had never had anyone bring that out in him. I did that for him, and he probably doesn't realize what I have done but he will later in life.
I guess that you could say I was trying to bring out the best in him. I never intended on falling in love with him, or he with me. But that part, that beautiful part that he showed only to me, I loved. He was kind and caring. He listened to me, and wanted to make me happy. That was a change, instead of me worrying if he was happy, he was worrying if I was happy. I know that probably want to kill him, but please give him a chance. He will be a good person, but if you hate him I fear that that beautiful part of him will wither and die.
If you hate anyone hate me. After all I did leave you. I did love someone else. I hurt you, not Draco. Don't get me wrong I love you, but not the way I loved Draco. I couldn't possibly choose between the two of you, because that's not fair to anyone. Someone will end up hurt. If I chose you then Draco would have become bitter, and become hard inside. If I chose him then you would have hated me, and I loved you. I would have been unhappy, and so would everyone else. I know that this may discourage you, but I never intended on hurting anyone.
I am crying as I write this, so I apologize if it gets smeared.
As I write I find more to say, things that I can't possibly put into words. Things that only you and I would understand. Things that are impossible to express expect in the simplest of ways. Like telling you again that I love you. I know that that phrase must have lost its meaning coming from me, but I am being very sincere.
I know that it will be difficult to think back on the good things that we have done together. The bad are always fresh on one's mind. Please, don't let my faults as a person bring you down. Instead let them give you an example, of what not to do. Don't be bitter.
This is the hardest thing that I have ever had to do. Oliver, I want you to forget about me. I know that they will make some kind of hero out of me, but you must move on. You have to forget that I even existed. I know that this must sound absolutely ridiculous, but you have to. I need you to.
This must seem really hard to do, but it is something that you must. You made my life complete. But now I am gone, and you are still here. If you can't forget about me completely then just leave me in the past. Your past. I don't want my memory to effect any part of your future. My life though it was short, is complete. There is nothing left for me to do (or at least that I was meant to do). I may sound depressed, but I have never felt this much joy before. I need you, you of all people, to understand that this is what I have to do. You know that once my mind is made up about something there is no changing it. I am so sorry to do this to you. I feel terrible.
There is only one thing that I ask of you, that I beg of you. Please don't dwell on the past.
Forever Yours,
Sarah Bellows
Oliver had tears in his eyes. He knew that what she had said was right, but that would be so dreadfully hard to do. He reread the letter, and he wiped his eyes. He folded the letter, and gathered up the tattered envelope and put them in his robe pocket. He would wait to put her in his past, because he still had that memorial service. He loved her, and he always would, but he had to go on with life. For Sarah.
Notes- Well, I like that chapter. I actually enjoyed writing Draco and his letter better. The way he responded. I want you to notice the mood change in Oliver. At the beginning he was melancholy and depressed, and at the end he was acting a little more like a passive attitude. Not necessarily passive, but more sanguine (just in case you didn't know that means optimistic or hopeful). Thanks for the reviews. I am really wanting to get this story done by the end of the week (so keep your fingers crossed).
Juvenus- I'm sorry you miss her... ;__; (in case you couldn't tell it's crying)