Look at me, aren't I the GREATEST! I finished another chapter in only three
days! Applause please! *glares* Anyway, loved your reviews, they made me
all warm and fuzzy inside! Thihi (uh, don't listen to me...)
Personal thanks:
Gia - I know it's so sweet!!! *giggles madly again*
Kandra - I know, I imagine Harry being the person who's able to laugh at himself - a lot.
Lyra - And do you know how much I love YOU for writing that review! I am deeply flattered!
JadeDragon - I'm happy you love it, and look! You didn't have to wait a month!
Lady Doncaster - I'm not gonna answer that now, Corey! You'll have to be a little more patient!
Dyane - Thank you! And you'll see about the slash thing...
Kirona - *falls down laughing* You're funny! Don't worry, I won't listen to you. But I guess deep inside I did, since I hurried up with this chapter before I go on my next vacation.
HARRY'S QUESTION
Ron Weasley had never been this tired before. In fact, everyone at Hogwarts was tired nowadays. The teachers didn't have much time to sleep, and the students couldn't sleep even if they tried. Some students even questioned the meaning of going to class everyday; when it was so obvious a war would break out any second now. Those students were immediately hushed by the teachers, who worked hard to stop panic from spreading at the school. And even if they did as much as they could, it wasn't enough. Rumors spread like fire among the classes, and every student got along in one subject: Voldemort and when he would attack Hogwarts next time.
Ron sighed heavily as he climbed the stairs to the boys' dorms. Sometimes in the afternoons he managed to fall asleep for an hour or two before woke up feeling nauseous for not being able to keep his guard up. It was much easier falling asleep if he was alone.
When he reached the open door he realized he would not be alone this afternoon; Harry was sitting by the window. Ron stopped and studied his friend for a while, there had been some time since he last got the chance to just look at Harry. Harry was always running around getting in trouble, going through detentions or taking lonely walks around the big lake.
He didn't look well, Ron admitted that. He was getting thinner, his shoulders were more pointy and sharp than ever before, and his shirts and pants hung on his body like big curtains. The bandages were still wrapped around his forehead.
He was sitting with his chin resting in his palm, elbow on the window- frame. "Tired?" Ron closed the door behind him and Harry turned around. He raised his eyebrows and nodded.
"Wanna take a nap? I've decided to give it a try..." Ron stepped over to his four-poster bed and fell onto it with a yawn. "You could at least try to get some rest as well you know."
"Mm..." Harry turned back towards the window and this time put his chin directly on the window-frame. A small faint dot was moving across the grass far beneath the Gryffindor tower. Harry's brows drew together; he reached for his glasses and put them on.
There was only one platinum-gray-haired fifteen-year-old in Hogwarts who owned a Nimbus 2001 and wore Slytherin green Quidditch-robes.
"You won't get away from me this time..." Harry mumbled to himself.
"What?" Ron turned over in his bed and stared at Harry. "What are you on about?" Harry stepped into his shoes and tried to press his feet into them meanwhile he was pulling a sweatshirt over his head.
"I'll be back sometime before dinner." He said before storming out of the dorm. Ron listened to his footsteps in the stairs, and then fell back on the bed again. At least he would have the room to himself then.
*Phew, wonder why I didn't think of this before!* Draco Malfoy thought as he headed back towards the castle after Quidditch practice. Testing your limits and getting high on adrenaline actually made him forget about his current life-situation. Now he was looking forward to a warm shower and some time alone in front of the open fire in his room, reading a book and not thinking about anything that has to do with the following: Harry Potter, Lord Voldemort, Harry Potter, homework and Harry Potter.
Speaking of Harry Potter - Harry slid out through the big oak door and looked around. As he spotted Draco, he headed down the stone staircase in his direction.
*No... No! Don't walk this way, don't come over here! Don't!* Harry stepped up to him and said something that sounded like "Hi there." Draco just stared at him. He looked so different in the golden light of the sunset... his hair was almost dark chocolate brown instead of black, and his skin looked like hone-
*What am I doing?! I'm staring at Harry Potter. Gah, do something! Look angry!*
Harry immediately took a step back when Draco's icy glare met him.
"Why, I'm glad to see you too, Malfoy! I don't even deserve a 'Hi' from you anymore?"
*Uh oh...* Draco cleared his throat and raised an eyebrow to suggestive.
"Hi." He answered.
"I'm honored." Harry snapped. Then shook his head. "This is not going the way I hoped..."
"Sorry to disappoint you." Draco said nonchalantly. "I'm on my way to a nice, hot shower, is there something very important you need to tell me?" He crossed his arms and started tapping his foot on the ground, making Harry look a little nervous.
"I more like, need to ask you something."
*I know.* Draco thought. He had heard Harry calling after him yesterday in the hospital wing. But he wouldn't go back.
"Ask away."
"Okay. Here it goes -" Harry scratched his head, then changed position with his feet about six times. Then he blurted out: "I wanna know why you didn't push me all the way over the rail when I gave you the chance!"
The slightest gap formed between Draco's lips, and he lowered his gaze thoughtfully.
"I gave you the chance to End Me right there that night, and you wouldn't have to feel any guilt."
A long moment passed before Draco spoke again, this time his voice was darker and softer.
"I thought you said you didn't remember anything from that night." Harry drew a hand through his hair and looked a little frustrated.
"Yeah well - after you told me and then threw me out of your room it all started to come back to me. Now you said you pulled me back over first because of instincts and because you were curious about why I was killing myself. But then I don't understand why you still didn't want me to jump when I explained it all and even told you that you could push me yourself. I know you still hated me and everything about me, and you were so close to pushing me over the rail, but you didn't! All I wanna know is why. I don't get it, Malfoy! All of a sudden you're acting nice to me, but still you won't let go of that dominant attitude I've always seen you with. Just - explain to me."
Draco would have done anything to not have to deal with that question at that moment. He was tired and sweaty and his skin was starting to get itchy because of the cold and the fact that he was burning up inside.
"Harry, Harry." Draco laughed nervously. "What would Dominant Draco Malfoy be if there was no Golden Harry Potter boy to be compared to?"
Harry just shook his head slowly, stepping away from Draco.
"That was the most pathetic excuse I've ever heard." He turned around and walked away. Clearly there was no way to talk seriously with Draco Malfoy. Draco stared at Harry's back, feeling anger well up inside.
"Because I got scared!!" Harry stopped. "Okay?" Draco immediately lowered his voice again. Harry turned around. Draco eyes were turning dark under his eyebrows.
"I got scared, I fucking freaked out! I thought about what would happen if you actually died. And I knew it, Voldemort would conquer. I know that you know my father is a Death Eater, and I was probably born to be one as well, and you're right! I've always been for Voldemort's ideas and opinions, but you were always there to fight him back. With you as an obstacle, I never had to worry about choosing a side, because it didn't matter since neither the dark side or your side had won yet. But if all of those ideas and opinions of his were put into action, if all of his wishes came true... I don't know if I would be able to take it."
Harry stared, completely staggered. He was still standing about ten feet from the blonde, whom now dropped his broom on the ground and drew both hands over his face in an uncomfortable movement.
"Then - why didn't you say so before?" Harry asked. Draco met his gaze and said quietly:
"Because I've always been so sure about witch side to choose when the time comes, and now I'm starting to wonder if it's the right side for me. And that scares me even more... And besides..."
Harry slowly stepped up to him again and looked into his eyes.
"Besides?" He whispered.
"... The thought of seeing you smashed against the ground below turned up inside my head. I could almost see your lifeless face, and..."
"Draco! Potter? You guys must be the last ones not to have gotten the message!" Pansy Parkinson turned up at the entrance looking a little worked up. Harry and Draco stared at her. "We're gathering in Great Hall early this evening, Dumbledore has some urgent change of plans to acknowledge! Come on, hurry!"
"Dear students," Dumbledore spoke up and the Great Hall became dead silent. "Young wizards and witches..." Not a student took their eyes off their headmaster as he stepped forward from the teachers' table and looked around. "Right now, there is a meeting going on in Lord Voldemort's quarters, all known Death Eaters have gathered with him, and they have been gone from their homes since yesterday." Whispers and gasps filled the Hall. Harry's eyes widened, and he saw Draco sitting at the Slytherin table; he didn't look very surprised. He knew. Of course he knew, his father Lucius was at that meeting, no doubt about it.
"Please, let me continue." Dumbledore raised his hands and once again silence filled the air.
"We know this thanks to our potions teacher Mr Snape, as you can see he is not with us at the moment." Snape's chair was in fact empty. Harry had never told anyone this, but he did admire Snape for having the courage to work as a spy against Lord Voldemort and actually attend to his meetings to gather information.
"Our only chance to know what they're planning is Mr Snape. Hopefully he will return later tonight. This of course, is making the Ministry quite nervous, and they have given us some requests about our security on this school. Tonight, no one will be aloud to go outside after dark, and at nine you all have to be in your rooms, door locked, windows closed. At midnight and tomorrow morning at nine o'clock, the teachers and I will walk from room to room and make sure you're still there. Classes are canceled tomorrow morning until we know more of the Death Eaters' position. The Ministry has contacted every country in Europe with a Ministry of their own, and they have agreed to send Aurors from each country to our help during this difficult time. They will all arrive tomorrow evening at Hogwarts after gathering at the Ministry to clear some things up. By the time they get here we can all consider us safe again, at least for the time being. You may all go to your rooms now." Tumult erupted among the students as everyone was trying to reach their friends and siblings, just to make sure they were not kidnapped already. Harry sighed and got up. He was about to head off to Gryffindor Tower, when Dumbledore seized him in and pulled him into a corner.
"Harry, I need to talk to you alone."
"Okay." Harry let Dumbledore lead him to the same small room with an open fire that the Triwizard Champions had gathered in last year. Dumbledore closed the door and turned to Harry with sad eyes.
"Are you scared, Harry?"
"I don't think so."
"That's a relief," Dumbledore walked up to him. "I don't want you sleeping in your room tonight, Harry. I don't even want you in Gryffindor Tower tonight, it's too dangerous. If they come for you, they'll know where to find you. Do you have any friends in other houses you can stay with tonight?"
At first, Cho Chang popped up in Harry's mind, but he erased that thought as quickly as he could.
"N- not really."
"What about Mr Malfoy, I've seen him acting pretty helpful during the last passed days?"
"Yeah well, that might be true, but I'm not sure he would like for me to -"
"To hide you in Slytherin would be the safest thing to do, believe it or not." Harry could see that the headmaster had made up his mind.
"I'll talk to him, go to your room and collect the things needed, and then head straight for the dungeons, is this clear?" Harry nodded. But he had a feeling Draco would not be too pleased to have him sleeping at his place for the second time in four days.
Coming up: A nice little sleepover! Hehe, I think I'm going to enjoy making the next chapter. Sorry if this one was a little too long, but these things needed to be cleared up. I know there was a lot of talking in this chapter, and not very many descriptions (sorry Lyra), but I'm saving detail descriptions for the next chapter. Don't know what to call it yet, you wanna vote for it? Here's the options: Draco's Toothbrush, Draco's Comfort or Draco's Mirror. All of them fits perfectly with the chapter, so what do YOU want the next chapter to be named?
Ya'all know what I'm going to say next... REVIEW! There, I feel better now! =) You know it's thanks to your reviews I keep writing this story.
Gia - I know it's so sweet!!! *giggles madly again*
Kandra - I know, I imagine Harry being the person who's able to laugh at himself - a lot.
Lyra - And do you know how much I love YOU for writing that review! I am deeply flattered!
JadeDragon - I'm happy you love it, and look! You didn't have to wait a month!
Lady Doncaster - I'm not gonna answer that now, Corey! You'll have to be a little more patient!
Dyane - Thank you! And you'll see about the slash thing...
Kirona - *falls down laughing* You're funny! Don't worry, I won't listen to you. But I guess deep inside I did, since I hurried up with this chapter before I go on my next vacation.
HARRY'S QUESTION
Ron Weasley had never been this tired before. In fact, everyone at Hogwarts was tired nowadays. The teachers didn't have much time to sleep, and the students couldn't sleep even if they tried. Some students even questioned the meaning of going to class everyday; when it was so obvious a war would break out any second now. Those students were immediately hushed by the teachers, who worked hard to stop panic from spreading at the school. And even if they did as much as they could, it wasn't enough. Rumors spread like fire among the classes, and every student got along in one subject: Voldemort and when he would attack Hogwarts next time.
Ron sighed heavily as he climbed the stairs to the boys' dorms. Sometimes in the afternoons he managed to fall asleep for an hour or two before woke up feeling nauseous for not being able to keep his guard up. It was much easier falling asleep if he was alone.
When he reached the open door he realized he would not be alone this afternoon; Harry was sitting by the window. Ron stopped and studied his friend for a while, there had been some time since he last got the chance to just look at Harry. Harry was always running around getting in trouble, going through detentions or taking lonely walks around the big lake.
He didn't look well, Ron admitted that. He was getting thinner, his shoulders were more pointy and sharp than ever before, and his shirts and pants hung on his body like big curtains. The bandages were still wrapped around his forehead.
He was sitting with his chin resting in his palm, elbow on the window- frame. "Tired?" Ron closed the door behind him and Harry turned around. He raised his eyebrows and nodded.
"Wanna take a nap? I've decided to give it a try..." Ron stepped over to his four-poster bed and fell onto it with a yawn. "You could at least try to get some rest as well you know."
"Mm..." Harry turned back towards the window and this time put his chin directly on the window-frame. A small faint dot was moving across the grass far beneath the Gryffindor tower. Harry's brows drew together; he reached for his glasses and put them on.
There was only one platinum-gray-haired fifteen-year-old in Hogwarts who owned a Nimbus 2001 and wore Slytherin green Quidditch-robes.
"You won't get away from me this time..." Harry mumbled to himself.
"What?" Ron turned over in his bed and stared at Harry. "What are you on about?" Harry stepped into his shoes and tried to press his feet into them meanwhile he was pulling a sweatshirt over his head.
"I'll be back sometime before dinner." He said before storming out of the dorm. Ron listened to his footsteps in the stairs, and then fell back on the bed again. At least he would have the room to himself then.
*Phew, wonder why I didn't think of this before!* Draco Malfoy thought as he headed back towards the castle after Quidditch practice. Testing your limits and getting high on adrenaline actually made him forget about his current life-situation. Now he was looking forward to a warm shower and some time alone in front of the open fire in his room, reading a book and not thinking about anything that has to do with the following: Harry Potter, Lord Voldemort, Harry Potter, homework and Harry Potter.
Speaking of Harry Potter - Harry slid out through the big oak door and looked around. As he spotted Draco, he headed down the stone staircase in his direction.
*No... No! Don't walk this way, don't come over here! Don't!* Harry stepped up to him and said something that sounded like "Hi there." Draco just stared at him. He looked so different in the golden light of the sunset... his hair was almost dark chocolate brown instead of black, and his skin looked like hone-
*What am I doing?! I'm staring at Harry Potter. Gah, do something! Look angry!*
Harry immediately took a step back when Draco's icy glare met him.
"Why, I'm glad to see you too, Malfoy! I don't even deserve a 'Hi' from you anymore?"
*Uh oh...* Draco cleared his throat and raised an eyebrow to suggestive.
"Hi." He answered.
"I'm honored." Harry snapped. Then shook his head. "This is not going the way I hoped..."
"Sorry to disappoint you." Draco said nonchalantly. "I'm on my way to a nice, hot shower, is there something very important you need to tell me?" He crossed his arms and started tapping his foot on the ground, making Harry look a little nervous.
"I more like, need to ask you something."
*I know.* Draco thought. He had heard Harry calling after him yesterday in the hospital wing. But he wouldn't go back.
"Ask away."
"Okay. Here it goes -" Harry scratched his head, then changed position with his feet about six times. Then he blurted out: "I wanna know why you didn't push me all the way over the rail when I gave you the chance!"
The slightest gap formed between Draco's lips, and he lowered his gaze thoughtfully.
"I gave you the chance to End Me right there that night, and you wouldn't have to feel any guilt."
A long moment passed before Draco spoke again, this time his voice was darker and softer.
"I thought you said you didn't remember anything from that night." Harry drew a hand through his hair and looked a little frustrated.
"Yeah well - after you told me and then threw me out of your room it all started to come back to me. Now you said you pulled me back over first because of instincts and because you were curious about why I was killing myself. But then I don't understand why you still didn't want me to jump when I explained it all and even told you that you could push me yourself. I know you still hated me and everything about me, and you were so close to pushing me over the rail, but you didn't! All I wanna know is why. I don't get it, Malfoy! All of a sudden you're acting nice to me, but still you won't let go of that dominant attitude I've always seen you with. Just - explain to me."
Draco would have done anything to not have to deal with that question at that moment. He was tired and sweaty and his skin was starting to get itchy because of the cold and the fact that he was burning up inside.
"Harry, Harry." Draco laughed nervously. "What would Dominant Draco Malfoy be if there was no Golden Harry Potter boy to be compared to?"
Harry just shook his head slowly, stepping away from Draco.
"That was the most pathetic excuse I've ever heard." He turned around and walked away. Clearly there was no way to talk seriously with Draco Malfoy. Draco stared at Harry's back, feeling anger well up inside.
"Because I got scared!!" Harry stopped. "Okay?" Draco immediately lowered his voice again. Harry turned around. Draco eyes were turning dark under his eyebrows.
"I got scared, I fucking freaked out! I thought about what would happen if you actually died. And I knew it, Voldemort would conquer. I know that you know my father is a Death Eater, and I was probably born to be one as well, and you're right! I've always been for Voldemort's ideas and opinions, but you were always there to fight him back. With you as an obstacle, I never had to worry about choosing a side, because it didn't matter since neither the dark side or your side had won yet. But if all of those ideas and opinions of his were put into action, if all of his wishes came true... I don't know if I would be able to take it."
Harry stared, completely staggered. He was still standing about ten feet from the blonde, whom now dropped his broom on the ground and drew both hands over his face in an uncomfortable movement.
"Then - why didn't you say so before?" Harry asked. Draco met his gaze and said quietly:
"Because I've always been so sure about witch side to choose when the time comes, and now I'm starting to wonder if it's the right side for me. And that scares me even more... And besides..."
Harry slowly stepped up to him again and looked into his eyes.
"Besides?" He whispered.
"... The thought of seeing you smashed against the ground below turned up inside my head. I could almost see your lifeless face, and..."
"Draco! Potter? You guys must be the last ones not to have gotten the message!" Pansy Parkinson turned up at the entrance looking a little worked up. Harry and Draco stared at her. "We're gathering in Great Hall early this evening, Dumbledore has some urgent change of plans to acknowledge! Come on, hurry!"
"Dear students," Dumbledore spoke up and the Great Hall became dead silent. "Young wizards and witches..." Not a student took their eyes off their headmaster as he stepped forward from the teachers' table and looked around. "Right now, there is a meeting going on in Lord Voldemort's quarters, all known Death Eaters have gathered with him, and they have been gone from their homes since yesterday." Whispers and gasps filled the Hall. Harry's eyes widened, and he saw Draco sitting at the Slytherin table; he didn't look very surprised. He knew. Of course he knew, his father Lucius was at that meeting, no doubt about it.
"Please, let me continue." Dumbledore raised his hands and once again silence filled the air.
"We know this thanks to our potions teacher Mr Snape, as you can see he is not with us at the moment." Snape's chair was in fact empty. Harry had never told anyone this, but he did admire Snape for having the courage to work as a spy against Lord Voldemort and actually attend to his meetings to gather information.
"Our only chance to know what they're planning is Mr Snape. Hopefully he will return later tonight. This of course, is making the Ministry quite nervous, and they have given us some requests about our security on this school. Tonight, no one will be aloud to go outside after dark, and at nine you all have to be in your rooms, door locked, windows closed. At midnight and tomorrow morning at nine o'clock, the teachers and I will walk from room to room and make sure you're still there. Classes are canceled tomorrow morning until we know more of the Death Eaters' position. The Ministry has contacted every country in Europe with a Ministry of their own, and they have agreed to send Aurors from each country to our help during this difficult time. They will all arrive tomorrow evening at Hogwarts after gathering at the Ministry to clear some things up. By the time they get here we can all consider us safe again, at least for the time being. You may all go to your rooms now." Tumult erupted among the students as everyone was trying to reach their friends and siblings, just to make sure they were not kidnapped already. Harry sighed and got up. He was about to head off to Gryffindor Tower, when Dumbledore seized him in and pulled him into a corner.
"Harry, I need to talk to you alone."
"Okay." Harry let Dumbledore lead him to the same small room with an open fire that the Triwizard Champions had gathered in last year. Dumbledore closed the door and turned to Harry with sad eyes.
"Are you scared, Harry?"
"I don't think so."
"That's a relief," Dumbledore walked up to him. "I don't want you sleeping in your room tonight, Harry. I don't even want you in Gryffindor Tower tonight, it's too dangerous. If they come for you, they'll know where to find you. Do you have any friends in other houses you can stay with tonight?"
At first, Cho Chang popped up in Harry's mind, but he erased that thought as quickly as he could.
"N- not really."
"What about Mr Malfoy, I've seen him acting pretty helpful during the last passed days?"
"Yeah well, that might be true, but I'm not sure he would like for me to -"
"To hide you in Slytherin would be the safest thing to do, believe it or not." Harry could see that the headmaster had made up his mind.
"I'll talk to him, go to your room and collect the things needed, and then head straight for the dungeons, is this clear?" Harry nodded. But he had a feeling Draco would not be too pleased to have him sleeping at his place for the second time in four days.
Coming up: A nice little sleepover! Hehe, I think I'm going to enjoy making the next chapter. Sorry if this one was a little too long, but these things needed to be cleared up. I know there was a lot of talking in this chapter, and not very many descriptions (sorry Lyra), but I'm saving detail descriptions for the next chapter. Don't know what to call it yet, you wanna vote for it? Here's the options: Draco's Toothbrush, Draco's Comfort or Draco's Mirror. All of them fits perfectly with the chapter, so what do YOU want the next chapter to be named?
Ya'all know what I'm going to say next... REVIEW! There, I feel better now! =) You know it's thanks to your reviews I keep writing this story.