The Art of Courage
"Books! And cleverness! There are more important things - friendship and bravery." Hermione's words echoed after Harry even after she had taken the potion and disappeared into the previous room to fetch Ron and escape to Dumbledore.
Like he had any of what she was talking about. He knew nothing of books, not lie Hermione, and certainly wasn't clever and would have forever been stuck in Snape's test. Friendship - that almost made him laugh. As if she had no friends either. Before September 1st Harry had never had anyone his age willingly talk to him, let alone become such a loyal friend. He had never been treated so kindly in his entire life! And bravery, well that was too much to think about. Harry was all for running away and hiding beneath his Invisibility Cloak, but facing something head on. Um, no. Harry thought he'd pass if he could.
But this time he couldn't pass. He *had* to face Voldemort, and Snape, because no one else was there to. Everyone thought he could do it. Why couldn't he?
Harry looked down at the tiny bottle in his hand. This bottle would lead him into the final room and confront Snape and most likely Voldemort as well. How could he do that? There was no way he was a match for either of them, even if Voldemort was still weak and nearly powerless. Harry had never had to go through anything as terrifying as this before in his life.
How could he chicken out and simply not go through with this, or just wait until Dumbledore got there? What would everyone think of him? Hermione had looked at him with such pride and belief that the idea of failing hurt him. What if he wasn't strong enough to face even a weakened Voldemort? What if he was killed instantly and they didn't bother to deal with him? Would Voldemort go so far? Yes. He would. And no doubt Snape would just be delighted to finish Harry off.
Harry looked down at the potion again. What if it didn't work? What if when he walked into the fire he was burned because the potion didn't work? Did Hermione get the exact ones correct? Sure hers worked, but what about his? No, don't doubt Hermione. She's the smartest girl he knew. She wouldn't be wrong about this. Surely Hermione would have made absolutely sure that it was all right before risking both hers and Harry's life.
With a deep breath Harry gathered all the small amounts of courage that he had and downed the potion. Sure enough he felt like ice was flooding through his body as Hermione had said. Good old Hermione. Now, to actually walk through the fire. This was the hardest part, willingly going into what could be fatal. Here was where Harry was able to prove whether or not he was truly brave and courageous.
Another deep breath was taken and Harry walked as quickly and calmly as he could through the black fire before the potion wore off. That would be embarrassing. To have beaten the other rooms and even this one only to burn because he had hesitated for too long. Great Harry Potter my arse!
He saw the black flames licking his body, but couldn't feel them - for a moment he could see nothing but dark fire - then he was on the other side, in the last chamber. Someone was already there, and it was neither Voldemort nor even Snape. It was Quirrell. It seemed unbelievable. Quirrell of all people. He had been frightened to face *Quirrell*. That was truly embarrassing. Harry was about to have a good chuckle over the irony of it when he saw Quirrell's face. His face wasn't twitching and he looked deadly calm.
What had he been saying about chuckling? Oh crap. There goes that courage again.
"Books! And cleverness! There are more important things - friendship and bravery." Hermione's words echoed after Harry even after she had taken the potion and disappeared into the previous room to fetch Ron and escape to Dumbledore.
Like he had any of what she was talking about. He knew nothing of books, not lie Hermione, and certainly wasn't clever and would have forever been stuck in Snape's test. Friendship - that almost made him laugh. As if she had no friends either. Before September 1st Harry had never had anyone his age willingly talk to him, let alone become such a loyal friend. He had never been treated so kindly in his entire life! And bravery, well that was too much to think about. Harry was all for running away and hiding beneath his Invisibility Cloak, but facing something head on. Um, no. Harry thought he'd pass if he could.
But this time he couldn't pass. He *had* to face Voldemort, and Snape, because no one else was there to. Everyone thought he could do it. Why couldn't he?
Harry looked down at the tiny bottle in his hand. This bottle would lead him into the final room and confront Snape and most likely Voldemort as well. How could he do that? There was no way he was a match for either of them, even if Voldemort was still weak and nearly powerless. Harry had never had to go through anything as terrifying as this before in his life.
How could he chicken out and simply not go through with this, or just wait until Dumbledore got there? What would everyone think of him? Hermione had looked at him with such pride and belief that the idea of failing hurt him. What if he wasn't strong enough to face even a weakened Voldemort? What if he was killed instantly and they didn't bother to deal with him? Would Voldemort go so far? Yes. He would. And no doubt Snape would just be delighted to finish Harry off.
Harry looked down at the potion again. What if it didn't work? What if when he walked into the fire he was burned because the potion didn't work? Did Hermione get the exact ones correct? Sure hers worked, but what about his? No, don't doubt Hermione. She's the smartest girl he knew. She wouldn't be wrong about this. Surely Hermione would have made absolutely sure that it was all right before risking both hers and Harry's life.
With a deep breath Harry gathered all the small amounts of courage that he had and downed the potion. Sure enough he felt like ice was flooding through his body as Hermione had said. Good old Hermione. Now, to actually walk through the fire. This was the hardest part, willingly going into what could be fatal. Here was where Harry was able to prove whether or not he was truly brave and courageous.
Another deep breath was taken and Harry walked as quickly and calmly as he could through the black fire before the potion wore off. That would be embarrassing. To have beaten the other rooms and even this one only to burn because he had hesitated for too long. Great Harry Potter my arse!
He saw the black flames licking his body, but couldn't feel them - for a moment he could see nothing but dark fire - then he was on the other side, in the last chamber. Someone was already there, and it was neither Voldemort nor even Snape. It was Quirrell. It seemed unbelievable. Quirrell of all people. He had been frightened to face *Quirrell*. That was truly embarrassing. Harry was about to have a good chuckle over the irony of it when he saw Quirrell's face. His face wasn't twitching and he looked deadly calm.
What had he been saying about chuckling? Oh crap. There goes that courage again.