Chapter 4: Hell, day 2
"Shit"
He muttered. He quickly stood up and looked at Ginny.
"Did you bring your wand?"
"Of course I-"
"All right. I need you to follow me, Voldemort is either attacking, or he is sending a first wave strike. Stay close okay?"
Ginny nodded and Harry smiled
"Okay"
He ran to his bed and grabbed his cloak. He pulled his hood up and ran towards the door, not bothering to put a shirt on. He pushed the door open and ran to the Griffindor common room. He stared at the fat lady for a minute before Ginny yelled
"Utopia!"
The portrait swung open. Every Griffindor was in the common room. They all stared at Harry and Ginny as they entered. Harry immediately took control.
"First through fourth years! Stay here and hide. Watch the door and remember to curse at the leaders. Lavender, I want you to stay here with them and keep them in order; don't let them curse any teachers that might come to help. The fifth through seventh years come with me."
He nodded to them all and turned around, rushing out of the room. All the fifth through seventh years followed him out. Hermionie and Ron quickly caught up with him and Ginny who were sprinting down the hall, far in front of the others.
"What's happened Andrew?"
Hermionie yelled, slightly out of breath
"Dementors"
He mumbled, shaking his head, trying to block out the screaming that was starting to take place. The group skidded around a corner and came face to face with over three hundred Dementors, moving around the hall. Harry could see the Ravenclaws, the Slytherins, and the teachers already fighting. The Hufflepuffs hadn't arrived yet. Harry grabbed Ginny, Ron and Hermionie and motioned for them to follow him. The other Griffindors got working. Harry, Ron, Hermionie and Ginny met up with Remus, Dumbledore and Mcgonagall only seconds later. Remus pulled them all up onto the stage that they had taught on earlier. Malfoy was quick to join them.
"On three!"
Harry roared. Everyone raised their wands at the battling crowd. It was becoming harder and harder for Harry to concentrate. He could see many students lying motionless on the floor.
"1"
He yelled
"2"
Sirius, Sirius, Sirius
"3! Expecto Patronum!"
They all roared. Eight animals burst forward. A silver stag galloped in the lead followed by a wolf, a lion, and a Unicorn. Above the four animals soared a large falcon and a Phoenix. A snake that was the size of a basilisk and a cat brought up the rear. Other students began shouting the incantation, and the group of animals grew and grew. Harry could only watch for a minute. The screaming became too much and he passed out. When he woke the Dementors were gone. The screaming had stopped but he was still shaking and sweating. He raised his head slowly, before pulling himself into a sitting position, his back against a chair. All the teacher's were moving through the crowd of bodies checking to see which ones were exhausted, dead, or worse. Remus was in the corner with Snape handing out chocolate to all of the students and teachers who were able to move. Through the whole ordeal his hood had managed to stay on, luckily for him. He used the chair for support and pulled his weak body up. He tested his legs but found they were to weak to hold him up. As he was about to collapse he felt someone grab him by the arms and hold him up. He turned to see another cloaked figure dressed in green robes standing behind him.
"You all right, Harry?"
It was Sirius
"Yeah, I think...what are you doing human?"
Harry asked. Sirius chuckled
"I decided to follow your lead. I need to be human every once in a while. This way I can help out and stuff. But if Fudge ever see's it fit to attended the school or anything, I'll be Snuffles."
Harry nodded his head slowly
"Has anyone I know been found dead, or, 'kissed'?"
Sirius sighed
"No one from Griffindor was administered the kiss or killed. No Slytherin's were either. 10 Hufflepuffs, 7 Ravenclaws, and Professor Vector..."
He bowed his head
"Were killed, strangled, I don't know why they didn't kiss them instead....Only one person received the kiss...."
Harry's mouth was dry and his heart was pounding hard in his chest, he couldn't see Sirius's face, but he could hear the sadness in his voice
"Cho, Cho was kissed"
Harry's heart sank, and his eyes fogged up. He knew Sirius couldn't see him, but he was sure Sirius knew.
"I'm so sorry Harry"
Sirius whispered. Harry didn't reply. He slowly walked off the stage, using all the energy he had to move without collapsing. Remus handed him a large piece of chocolate on his way out of the hall. Harry could hardly chew it. He was halfway to his room when he heard feet pounding behind him. He didn't look up until the person stopped beside him. Again it was Sirius.
"Ginny was looking for you"
He said, his voice quiet and dull
"mm"
Harry grunted, continuing to walk. They walked in silence the rest of the way. Harry was about to say the password to his room when a voice rang out through the hall
"Andrew! Andrew!"
Both Sirius and Harry turned. Hermionie and Ron were pelting towards him.
"We saw you collapse, are you ok?"
Hermionie said, Ron nodded
"Yes"
Both Harry and Sirius said. Harry glared at Sirius, but he couldn't see
"Uh-huh"
Hermionie said slowly, walking past Harry and Sirius. Ron followed her. Harry distinctly heard him say
"So many damned cloaked figures can't tell teacher's from death eaters"
Sirius and Harry had to chuckle once they were inside. Harry checked his room before removing his cloak. Sirius did the same.
"That's another Sirius...because of me five people have lost their lives..."
"She's not dead Harry, and it wasn't your fault!"
"She's worse than dead Sirius! And of course it was my fault! I brought her here, if I would of done what I had to do alone she wou-"
"She came on her own accord Harry, not because of you. And if she had half a mind to tell you that she would! But she can't, there is no way to heal her once the Dementors have given her the kiss, no spell-"
"Sirius!"
"What?"
"You're a genius!"
"Huh?"
"No spell!"
"Yeah, and?"
"I don't need spells! I can heal her with my magic!"
"Harry-"
"I can save her Sirius!"
"Harry-"
But Sirius couldn't finish. Harry already had his cloak on and he was out the door. Sirius groaned and pulled his cloak on too. He ran out the door and after Harry. He found him with Dumbledore in front of a door beside the one-eyed-witch. They were having a conservative argument.
"Professor! I can save her!"
"Your magic isn't strong enough Harry"
"Yes it is, do you want her to live out the rest of her life like that? She's better off dead!"
"I don't want to see her like this Harry, but your magic is too weak, if you try this you could die.."
"I won't die Professor. My magic may not be as strong as it could be, but it's strong enough to try and save a friend..."
Dumbledore sighed in aggravation
"Harry, I don't think you should do this. I don't even think you would want to see her now. It isn't the Cho you knew, and it still wouldn't be the Cho you knew, even if you did heal her"
Harry didn't answer
"Let me see her"
He finally said, glancing up at Dumbledore. Slowly Dumbledore nodded and turned to the door they were standing beside. Sirius rushed forward, after Harry saw what he was about to see, he would seriously need some support. Sirius had seen many people after they had been administered the kiss. It was one of the most depressing things in the world. He followed Harry and Dumbledore into the room. The walls were now white and padded. A bed that looked to be made of a cloud hovered feet off the ground. Curled up in the corner was Cho. She was white as a sheet and barely breathing. Her hair was scattered everywhere and she was staring off into a dreamland.
"Her soul is gone Harry. She barely exits. She just sits there, breathing and staring. Never moving unless she is moved, rarely making a sound. If you did heal her it would give her back her soul, not her sanity. She would be the same, except more talkative, and more active. No healing method will ever bring her back."
Harry wasn't only half listening to Dumbledore. He approached Cho and knelt beside her. Slowly he reached out his hand and brushed hers lightly. She didn't react at all, just stared passed him as if he wasn't there. Harry bowed his head
"She's going to be like this for the rest of her life?"
He whispered. Dumbledore nodded
"Yes"
He said bluntly. Sirius watched all this from the door. He couldn't enter the room. It was so full of sadness and fear. It made him feel so empty. Harry shuddered and again reached out his hand towards Cho. He brushed her dark hair out of her eyes and stood up.
"So, so healing her would only make her more miserable?"
"It would give her the ability to think, yes, but not act. She would be trapped inside herself, live in a fantasy world. But inside she would know she wasn't living reality, but she wouldn't be able to express it, thus making her go even more insane."
Harry nodded and turned around. He walked passed Dumbledore and towards Sirius. He stopped in the doorframe, took one last look at Cho, then left. Sirius sighed and very quietly stepped into the room.
"Albus?"
He whispered
"Yes Sirius?"
"Will Harry be all right?"
"Harry has been through a lot. Much more than most people have. He has the heart of a lion. He won't ever give up his life because he lost someone he loves. Give him time to mourn, he's only seventeen you know?"
"Yes I know, seventeen and more mature than me"
Dumbledore chuckled and left the room, leading Sirius back towards his office.
"Yes, well, he is just like James. He was always the mature one of you four"
"He was not, Remus was. James just acted more mature around adults. It was usually James that got us into trouble..."
"Alas, as I said, Harry is just like James. Mature and bold on the outside, but on the inside, the one that always drags his friends into trouble..."
"Very dangerous trouble"
"But he always thought of a logical way out did he not?"
"No, he didn't. Remus thought of the logical way, James thought of a fast and heroic way. We always seemed to use James' choices."
"Yes, I know, we never seemed to learn"
Came a new voice. It was Remus; he was just stepping out of Mcgonagall's office.
"Headmaster, Minerva was just about to come looking for you. But since your here maybe you should just stop by her office?"
Dumbledore smiled
"Of course Remus" He nodded to them both then entered the office. Remus and Sirius turned around and started walking towards their hidden room.
"Reliving old memories?"
Remus asked
"No, we were comparing Harry to James. They really are just alike, in personality and looks"
"Ah yes, but Harry still has his mothers temper, and her heart"
"I agree, Harry doesn't seem to be as romantic as James"
"No, not in the slightest"
They both laughed and Sirius said the password. When they entered they noticed two figures sitting on the couch, waiting.
"We never should have given you two the password"
Remus muttered. Sirius nodded and took down his hood
"Your lives would be boring without us"
Hermionie said, grinning
"Our lives are far from boring"
Remus retorted, taking a seat next to Ron who was munching on a chocolate frog. "I'm guessing you didn't come here just to visit..."
Sirius said, looking at Ron from behind the couch. Ron looked up at him and grinned
"Of course not"
He mumbled, spraying Remus with chocolate frog.
"You both seem to know the new Professor very well and we were wondering if you could tell us something about him"
Hermionie said quickly
"Can't stay out of other peoples lives can you?"
Sirius said, plopping down on the floor next to the fire. Hermionie glared at him
"We know just about as much as you do. His name is Andrew, he's in hiding, single, seventeen, was 'sort of' an Auror..."
Remus listed, ticking off the things he knew on his fingers. Hermionie nodded, but didn't say anything
"Again I'm guessing that you want something else"
Sirius muttered from his position on the floor
"Yes"
Ron said loudly. Hermionie gave him the look and said, much more calmly
"Have you heard from Harry recently?"
Sirius turned his head quickly, and Remus did the same, they both were staring at Hermionie
"No"
Sirius said quietly
"Not for a long time"
Remus nodded
"Me either"
Hermionie bowed her head, as did Ron.
"Well, see you later then"
Ron said, dragging Hermionie out of the room. After the portrait closed the room was silent
"Harry needs to tell them"
Sirius finally whispered
"He can't keep hiding from them"
Remus nodded
"I know"
Again they were plunged into silence
"Well, I'm off to bed, we don't know when Voldemort will send those horrible things back"
Sirius said, standing up. He smiled slightly at Remus and patted his shoulder
"Get some sleep old friend"
He muttered before going into his room and closing the door.
(Ok, there's another chapter, not as long as I hoped, but ok. I hope you liked it, and I promise to have another up in a few days! ~ Kay)
"Shit"
He muttered. He quickly stood up and looked at Ginny.
"Did you bring your wand?"
"Of course I-"
"All right. I need you to follow me, Voldemort is either attacking, or he is sending a first wave strike. Stay close okay?"
Ginny nodded and Harry smiled
"Okay"
He ran to his bed and grabbed his cloak. He pulled his hood up and ran towards the door, not bothering to put a shirt on. He pushed the door open and ran to the Griffindor common room. He stared at the fat lady for a minute before Ginny yelled
"Utopia!"
The portrait swung open. Every Griffindor was in the common room. They all stared at Harry and Ginny as they entered. Harry immediately took control.
"First through fourth years! Stay here and hide. Watch the door and remember to curse at the leaders. Lavender, I want you to stay here with them and keep them in order; don't let them curse any teachers that might come to help. The fifth through seventh years come with me."
He nodded to them all and turned around, rushing out of the room. All the fifth through seventh years followed him out. Hermionie and Ron quickly caught up with him and Ginny who were sprinting down the hall, far in front of the others.
"What's happened Andrew?"
Hermionie yelled, slightly out of breath
"Dementors"
He mumbled, shaking his head, trying to block out the screaming that was starting to take place. The group skidded around a corner and came face to face with over three hundred Dementors, moving around the hall. Harry could see the Ravenclaws, the Slytherins, and the teachers already fighting. The Hufflepuffs hadn't arrived yet. Harry grabbed Ginny, Ron and Hermionie and motioned for them to follow him. The other Griffindors got working. Harry, Ron, Hermionie and Ginny met up with Remus, Dumbledore and Mcgonagall only seconds later. Remus pulled them all up onto the stage that they had taught on earlier. Malfoy was quick to join them.
"On three!"
Harry roared. Everyone raised their wands at the battling crowd. It was becoming harder and harder for Harry to concentrate. He could see many students lying motionless on the floor.
"1"
He yelled
"2"
Sirius, Sirius, Sirius
"3! Expecto Patronum!"
They all roared. Eight animals burst forward. A silver stag galloped in the lead followed by a wolf, a lion, and a Unicorn. Above the four animals soared a large falcon and a Phoenix. A snake that was the size of a basilisk and a cat brought up the rear. Other students began shouting the incantation, and the group of animals grew and grew. Harry could only watch for a minute. The screaming became too much and he passed out. When he woke the Dementors were gone. The screaming had stopped but he was still shaking and sweating. He raised his head slowly, before pulling himself into a sitting position, his back against a chair. All the teacher's were moving through the crowd of bodies checking to see which ones were exhausted, dead, or worse. Remus was in the corner with Snape handing out chocolate to all of the students and teachers who were able to move. Through the whole ordeal his hood had managed to stay on, luckily for him. He used the chair for support and pulled his weak body up. He tested his legs but found they were to weak to hold him up. As he was about to collapse he felt someone grab him by the arms and hold him up. He turned to see another cloaked figure dressed in green robes standing behind him.
"You all right, Harry?"
It was Sirius
"Yeah, I think...what are you doing human?"
Harry asked. Sirius chuckled
"I decided to follow your lead. I need to be human every once in a while. This way I can help out and stuff. But if Fudge ever see's it fit to attended the school or anything, I'll be Snuffles."
Harry nodded his head slowly
"Has anyone I know been found dead, or, 'kissed'?"
Sirius sighed
"No one from Griffindor was administered the kiss or killed. No Slytherin's were either. 10 Hufflepuffs, 7 Ravenclaws, and Professor Vector..."
He bowed his head
"Were killed, strangled, I don't know why they didn't kiss them instead....Only one person received the kiss...."
Harry's mouth was dry and his heart was pounding hard in his chest, he couldn't see Sirius's face, but he could hear the sadness in his voice
"Cho, Cho was kissed"
Harry's heart sank, and his eyes fogged up. He knew Sirius couldn't see him, but he was sure Sirius knew.
"I'm so sorry Harry"
Sirius whispered. Harry didn't reply. He slowly walked off the stage, using all the energy he had to move without collapsing. Remus handed him a large piece of chocolate on his way out of the hall. Harry could hardly chew it. He was halfway to his room when he heard feet pounding behind him. He didn't look up until the person stopped beside him. Again it was Sirius.
"Ginny was looking for you"
He said, his voice quiet and dull
"mm"
Harry grunted, continuing to walk. They walked in silence the rest of the way. Harry was about to say the password to his room when a voice rang out through the hall
"Andrew! Andrew!"
Both Sirius and Harry turned. Hermionie and Ron were pelting towards him.
"We saw you collapse, are you ok?"
Hermionie said, Ron nodded
"Yes"
Both Harry and Sirius said. Harry glared at Sirius, but he couldn't see
"Uh-huh"
Hermionie said slowly, walking past Harry and Sirius. Ron followed her. Harry distinctly heard him say
"So many damned cloaked figures can't tell teacher's from death eaters"
Sirius and Harry had to chuckle once they were inside. Harry checked his room before removing his cloak. Sirius did the same.
"That's another Sirius...because of me five people have lost their lives..."
"She's not dead Harry, and it wasn't your fault!"
"She's worse than dead Sirius! And of course it was my fault! I brought her here, if I would of done what I had to do alone she wou-"
"She came on her own accord Harry, not because of you. And if she had half a mind to tell you that she would! But she can't, there is no way to heal her once the Dementors have given her the kiss, no spell-"
"Sirius!"
"What?"
"You're a genius!"
"Huh?"
"No spell!"
"Yeah, and?"
"I don't need spells! I can heal her with my magic!"
"Harry-"
"I can save her Sirius!"
"Harry-"
But Sirius couldn't finish. Harry already had his cloak on and he was out the door. Sirius groaned and pulled his cloak on too. He ran out the door and after Harry. He found him with Dumbledore in front of a door beside the one-eyed-witch. They were having a conservative argument.
"Professor! I can save her!"
"Your magic isn't strong enough Harry"
"Yes it is, do you want her to live out the rest of her life like that? She's better off dead!"
"I don't want to see her like this Harry, but your magic is too weak, if you try this you could die.."
"I won't die Professor. My magic may not be as strong as it could be, but it's strong enough to try and save a friend..."
Dumbledore sighed in aggravation
"Harry, I don't think you should do this. I don't even think you would want to see her now. It isn't the Cho you knew, and it still wouldn't be the Cho you knew, even if you did heal her"
Harry didn't answer
"Let me see her"
He finally said, glancing up at Dumbledore. Slowly Dumbledore nodded and turned to the door they were standing beside. Sirius rushed forward, after Harry saw what he was about to see, he would seriously need some support. Sirius had seen many people after they had been administered the kiss. It was one of the most depressing things in the world. He followed Harry and Dumbledore into the room. The walls were now white and padded. A bed that looked to be made of a cloud hovered feet off the ground. Curled up in the corner was Cho. She was white as a sheet and barely breathing. Her hair was scattered everywhere and she was staring off into a dreamland.
"Her soul is gone Harry. She barely exits. She just sits there, breathing and staring. Never moving unless she is moved, rarely making a sound. If you did heal her it would give her back her soul, not her sanity. She would be the same, except more talkative, and more active. No healing method will ever bring her back."
Harry wasn't only half listening to Dumbledore. He approached Cho and knelt beside her. Slowly he reached out his hand and brushed hers lightly. She didn't react at all, just stared passed him as if he wasn't there. Harry bowed his head
"She's going to be like this for the rest of her life?"
He whispered. Dumbledore nodded
"Yes"
He said bluntly. Sirius watched all this from the door. He couldn't enter the room. It was so full of sadness and fear. It made him feel so empty. Harry shuddered and again reached out his hand towards Cho. He brushed her dark hair out of her eyes and stood up.
"So, so healing her would only make her more miserable?"
"It would give her the ability to think, yes, but not act. She would be trapped inside herself, live in a fantasy world. But inside she would know she wasn't living reality, but she wouldn't be able to express it, thus making her go even more insane."
Harry nodded and turned around. He walked passed Dumbledore and towards Sirius. He stopped in the doorframe, took one last look at Cho, then left. Sirius sighed and very quietly stepped into the room.
"Albus?"
He whispered
"Yes Sirius?"
"Will Harry be all right?"
"Harry has been through a lot. Much more than most people have. He has the heart of a lion. He won't ever give up his life because he lost someone he loves. Give him time to mourn, he's only seventeen you know?"
"Yes I know, seventeen and more mature than me"
Dumbledore chuckled and left the room, leading Sirius back towards his office.
"Yes, well, he is just like James. He was always the mature one of you four"
"He was not, Remus was. James just acted more mature around adults. It was usually James that got us into trouble..."
"Alas, as I said, Harry is just like James. Mature and bold on the outside, but on the inside, the one that always drags his friends into trouble..."
"Very dangerous trouble"
"But he always thought of a logical way out did he not?"
"No, he didn't. Remus thought of the logical way, James thought of a fast and heroic way. We always seemed to use James' choices."
"Yes, I know, we never seemed to learn"
Came a new voice. It was Remus; he was just stepping out of Mcgonagall's office.
"Headmaster, Minerva was just about to come looking for you. But since your here maybe you should just stop by her office?"
Dumbledore smiled
"Of course Remus" He nodded to them both then entered the office. Remus and Sirius turned around and started walking towards their hidden room.
"Reliving old memories?"
Remus asked
"No, we were comparing Harry to James. They really are just alike, in personality and looks"
"Ah yes, but Harry still has his mothers temper, and her heart"
"I agree, Harry doesn't seem to be as romantic as James"
"No, not in the slightest"
They both laughed and Sirius said the password. When they entered they noticed two figures sitting on the couch, waiting.
"We never should have given you two the password"
Remus muttered. Sirius nodded and took down his hood
"Your lives would be boring without us"
Hermionie said, grinning
"Our lives are far from boring"
Remus retorted, taking a seat next to Ron who was munching on a chocolate frog. "I'm guessing you didn't come here just to visit..."
Sirius said, looking at Ron from behind the couch. Ron looked up at him and grinned
"Of course not"
He mumbled, spraying Remus with chocolate frog.
"You both seem to know the new Professor very well and we were wondering if you could tell us something about him"
Hermionie said quickly
"Can't stay out of other peoples lives can you?"
Sirius said, plopping down on the floor next to the fire. Hermionie glared at him
"We know just about as much as you do. His name is Andrew, he's in hiding, single, seventeen, was 'sort of' an Auror..."
Remus listed, ticking off the things he knew on his fingers. Hermionie nodded, but didn't say anything
"Again I'm guessing that you want something else"
Sirius muttered from his position on the floor
"Yes"
Ron said loudly. Hermionie gave him the look and said, much more calmly
"Have you heard from Harry recently?"
Sirius turned his head quickly, and Remus did the same, they both were staring at Hermionie
"No"
Sirius said quietly
"Not for a long time"
Remus nodded
"Me either"
Hermionie bowed her head, as did Ron.
"Well, see you later then"
Ron said, dragging Hermionie out of the room. After the portrait closed the room was silent
"Harry needs to tell them"
Sirius finally whispered
"He can't keep hiding from them"
Remus nodded
"I know"
Again they were plunged into silence
"Well, I'm off to bed, we don't know when Voldemort will send those horrible things back"
Sirius said, standing up. He smiled slightly at Remus and patted his shoulder
"Get some sleep old friend"
He muttered before going into his room and closing the door.
(Ok, there's another chapter, not as long as I hoped, but ok. I hope you liked it, and I promise to have another up in a few days! ~ Kay)