Sooner or Later
By: AngelDusterBuster
Disclaimer: Let's face it. We all know I don't own any of the characters from the Harry Potter books. So if you see something here that was ever mentioned in the books remember that I was only given the material I didn't create it!
Chapter Seventeen: Lost In The Storm
Watching Harry rush out of the Great Hall soon after Ron and Hermione had decided it was best not to confront him just yet.
"You know what we need to do right?", Hermione whispered softly to Ron making sure nobody else at the table could hear.
Ron nodded slightly, "He's not going to like it"
"It's the only person who can get through to him before he gives up his future", Hermione shrugged, "we have to do it, for Harry"
"Have either of you seen Harry this morning?", Sarah asked softly coming from behind Ron.
"Sarah!", Ron jumped up, "Thanks for giving me a heart attack!"
"You definitely are Harry's friend", Sarah laughed, "But really I kind of blew up at him yesterday…I wanted to talk to him"
"You just missed him", Hermione shook her head, "he's angry with us so were the not the ones to ask but…he just left"
"Are you talking about Harry?", Seamus sat down across from Ron, "I just saw him…looked quite upset about something"
Hermione and Ron exchanged glances before jumping up. But Sarah still looked confused, "What's going on?"
"Let's just say we need to find Harry before he does something stupid", Hermione grabbed Sarah's arm pulling her behind. And with Ron leading the way the three ran out of the room leaving a even more confused Seamus staring after them.
***********
"What's wrong with you?", Ginny Weasley snapped seeing Harry enter the common room.
"Nothing", Harry ignored Ginny and kept walking.
"Sure doesn't look like nothing", Ginny followed Harry up the stairs to the 7th year boy dormitory.
"Do you need something Ginny?", Harry blurted out throwing himself down on his bed.
"Harry are you…are you okay?", Ginny stared down at his curiously.
"Just questioning things I never did before", Harry shrugged throwing a pillow over his head, "your not supposed to be up here"
"Do you like Sarah?", Ginny blurted out accidentally.
Harry's eyes popped open, "What did you say?"
"Do you like Sarah", Ginny repeated.
"That really isn't your business", Harry shook his head, "and you hate me anyway remember? So what's it matter"
"And how would you know if I hated you?", Ginny throw her hands in the air.
"Well…I pretty much assumed after you refused to tutor me again that something was up", Harry rolled his eyes, "if your not going to leave I will"
"HARRY!", Three voices yelled from the common room.
"Why doesn't anyone just leave me alone!", Harry slammed a pillow against the wall in frustration grabbing his broom and invisibility cloak, "if they ask I was never here"
"Fine by me", Ginny stepped out of Harry's way, "Guess I'll see you later"
Throwing his cloak on and covering his broom Harry stormed passed Ron, Hermione, and to his amazement Sarah. All unaware that he was even there.
"It's just Ginny", Ron yelled wanting his sister to hear.
"Grow up Ron", Ginny pushed past him down the stairs, "and for your information Harry just walked past you"
Ron stared at Ginny puzzled for a moment, "Nobody came by…"
Hermione's eyes lit up, "His cloak!"
"Why didn't you stop him!", Sarah shouted at Ginny.
"He's your boyfriend not mine", Ginny glared at Sarah.
"Boyfriend? What are you talking about?", Sarah followed Ginny who had started walking away, "You have a serious attitude problem"
"Come on Ron", Hermione motioned, "Let's go"
***********
When he was sure he was out of sight, Harry tore off the invisibility cloak. Truthfully, he wasn't sure why he was running away from Ron and Hermione. But he knew he needed to be alone. And Hogwarts wasn't going to be the place where he would ever be.
"Oh hello Harry", Professor Sanibel smiled cheerfully.
"Hi", Harry muttered as he kept walking.
"Everything alright?", Professor Sanibel shouted ahead. But Harry was already out of sight.
Harry swallowed hard. He was facing the most difficult decision of his life. To run or not to run. It was pouring buckets outside, but Harry didn't care. Jumping onto his broom, Harry felt relief when he hit the air.
Rain soaking his hair and clothes, Harry still kept flying. For some reason it felt the further away he got, the more relief he felt. He was completely unaware of where he was, but he still didn't care. He could hear thunder in the distance.
As the rain starting pouring down faster, harder, Harry had to concentrate extra hard on keeping control of his firebolt. The rain was making it quite slippery to hang unto.
His mind flashed back to earlier that year. Before Ron's brother died. When things were still normal. Up till this year he had to say he always felt as if nothing bad could happen to him as long as Professor Dumbledore was around. The problems he'd always had were always semi controllable. But now this year, everything was out of control. Both Ron's brother, and Dumbledore had died because of him.
A light flashed in front of his eyes, and he felt himself flying through the air. Sirius' voice took over his mind
"Just what are you three doing out here! Even if it was a Hogsmeade weekend…which it isn't….how could you be so stupid Harry! With everything going on…."
"Harry I'm just trying to help you here! It isn't going to make me go away by snapping at me and giving four word answers. All that's going to do is keep me in your way even more"
When he finally felt his body hit the ground he winced with pain. Something Oliver Wood had told him years back flashed into his mind pulling away the memories of Sirius, "I don't mind if you decide to come out for some extra practice, in fact I encourage it. But never fly in a storm alone. It's bad news, and the outcomes never good"
A single tear rolled down the side of his face, and suddenly he wished he was back safe inside the walls of Hogwarts.
************
It hadn't taken long for Hermione and Ron to realize they were going to need more than each other to find their friend. So almost two hours later, the search for Harry Potter had begun. Everyone had been ordered to stay inside their common room. Everyone but Ron, Hermione, and a few select others who were closest to Harry that is.
For them the search for Harry had continued. An adult accompanied each group that went out. It was a precaution to be sure they wouldn't lose anyone else.
"Where could he be?", Hermione found herself asking for the hundredth time, "Why would he run away?"
"We'll find him", Ron put his arm around Hermione, "He can't have gotten to far in this weather"
"Harry!", Hermione screamed at the top of her lungs, "Where are you?"
Remus looked back at the two sympathetically. He knew how hard it must be for them, "Stay close…the storms made it pretty dark out"
"What if he's lost?", Ron bit his lip, "he could be anywhere"
"If you said he has his broom…I don't know if Harry would be stupid enough to fly in this or not", Remus shrugged.
"Wait", Hermione whispered, "I think I heard something…"
"It's just the wind", Ron replied.
Hermione ran forward not caring how wet she got. She wasn't taking the chance that she'd heard Harry and they hadn't looked.
"Hermione!", Remus and Ron yelled , "Wait!"
"Stay here", Remus commanded, "I'll go get her"
But he wouldn't have had to say that as moments later they heard Hermione's scream. Both tearing off in the direction Hermione had went they soon found her standing over a body, Harry's body.
"Harry!", Ron gasped watching Hermione stand over him.
Remus quickly examined the situation before approaching. He knelt down next to Harry.
"Is he…is he…", Hermione tried to ask.
"He's alive", Remus nodded feeling for a pulse, "But we've got to get him back to school"
"Harry's firebolt!", Ron saw a few feet away, "he was flying"
"Harry", Remus began to repeat gently tired to shake him awake.
Harry's eyes snapped open, but all that came out of his mouth was a groan.
"Don't talk", Remus whispered motioning for Ron to come closer, "Harry, Ron and I are going to life you up now"
Harry shook his head, "My arm…"
"We can't do anything now", Remus looked up at Hermione who had burst out in tears.
Each taking a side, Remus and Ron slowly helped Harry to his feet, "your doing fine Harry"
Harry, who looked ready to collapse at any given moment, felt dizziness soon rush inside him. And not a short time later he was unconscious again.
Hermione looked up at Remus uneasily, "It's alright Hermione…he doesn't have a concussion or anything like that"
Ron could already notice the difference in a limp Harry's weight, "How close are we?"
Remus stared ahead of them figuring out the distance, "Hermione…take Harry's broom and fly ahead for help"
Hermione stared at Remus, "Me?"
"You do know how to fly don't you?", Remus asked.
"Well yes but…"
"Hermione just do it", Ron blurted out, "it's going to take us forever to get back otherwise"
"Can't you just…apparate or something?", Hermione glared at Ron who had burst out laughing, "What?"
"Just the fact that you told me a billion zillion times you can't apparate to Hogwarts", Ron rolled his eyes, "but come on Hermione…you can do it. You'll be fine"
Grabbing the broomstick from Ron, Hermione took one last look at Harry before soaring into air.
"How long do you think it'll take her?", Ron looked over at Remus.
"Not too long", Remus assured Ron, "if you want we can--"
"No", Ron shook his head, "I'm fine…I'm just worried about him"
"I think we should stop and wait", Remus looked from Ron to Harry, "I didn't expect him to be hurt…so I don't have the materials to clean those cuts"
Ron was relived when they set Harry back down, "Why do you think he ran away?"
"I have my guesses…but only Harry can tell us that"
**************
When Harry woke up later, it took a moment for his mind to register where he was. The last he remembered was someone lifting him off the ground. He had no clue who, but now he found himself safely back inside the common room.
His wet clothes has been removed as well as his glasses. So naturally he still wasn't sure who was sitting next to him when he opened his eyes.
He felt a sharp pain in his head and quickly shut them.
"Harry?", a soft voice whispered, "Harry are you awake?"
"He could've fallen back asleep already", Madam Pomfrey came back to check on Harry, "it must have been quite the fall he had. Amazing it wasn't worse"
Sirius nodded as he watched Madam Pomfrey walk back into her office.
"Harry…you've gotta wake up kid. Everyone's worried about you", Sirius put his hand on Harry's forehead, "Please Harry"
"Sirius?", Harry opened his eyes again, "is that you?"
Sirius smiled, "How do you feel?"
"Not so good", Harry put his hand on his head, "My head hurts"
"You took a small blow to the head", Sirius nodded pulling Harry's hand away, "Your better off leaving the bandages on"
"How'd I…how'd I get here?", Harry rubbed his eyes .
"Remus, Ron, and Hermione", Sirius stated softly, "you should get some more rest"
Shutting his eyes Harry had almost fallen asleep when he heard a door slam, "I should've known there would be at least one more problem wit h you before you graduated"
Harry's eyes snapped open. He grabbed his glasses as he saw Sirius stand up.
"Excuse me?", Sirius stared at Cornelius Fudge who had just entered the hospital wing.
"Mr. Fudge this is a Hospital Wing", Headmaster Winston's voice came next, "were going to have to ask you to leave"
"How do you think it looks for me when newspaper headlines pop up saying students are missing?", Fudge tried to walk past Sirius to talk directly to Harry.
"Leave him alone", Sirius said furiously, "you've cost this family enough pain. Your term is almost up Fudge so just leave everyone here alone"
"It's my responsibility to see that things are run properly at this school Black", Fudge spat back, "and with your godson here that never seems to happen. One can only be glad he graduates soon"
"You better get out of here before I do something I shouldn't", Sirius laughed.
"Headmaster I'll be needing to speak with you in your office", Fudge ignored Sirius.
"Certainly", Headmaster Winston opened the door and the two walked out.
Sirius turned back to Harry who had already fallen back asleep , "Sorry you had to see that Harry but…"
Removing Harry's glasses, Sirius through another blanket over Harry before leaving the room for the night.
***************
Harry's recovery had been pushed through quickly as he now had graduation only two days away. He hadn't had much time to even think about what had happened. Sirius had been called back to work before the two could even talk, and Ron and Hermione had just been happy to have their friend back. So nothing much had ever been said regarding the incident.
"Alright people this isn't that difficult!", Professor McGonagall yelled over the chatter of the seventh years. You'll come up here and receive your diploma when Professor Winston reads your name"
"Harry", Harry looked up when he felt a tap on his shoulder, "Hate to pull you out of this interesting demonstration but I need to talk to you about something"
Harry nodded and followed Headmaster Winston out of the Great Hall, "Is everything alright?"
"Oh yes of course", Winston nodded cheerfully, "But you see…I've been put in a difficult position. Now of course as you know Ms. Granger as Val Victorian will be giving her speech but it's come to my attention the students and staff would like some sort of speech about Professor Dumbledore. I asked around and all fingers pointed at you"
Harry was amazed, "Me?"
"I realize it's short notice but…"
"Well I'll do it it's just…me?", Harry questioned.
"Well if every person I asked mentioned you I'm assuming you must be the man for the job", Winston continued, "So your up to it? Good…what a relief"
Harry laughed, "I better get back…Professor McGonagall might be explaining how quickly to walk…wouldn't want to miss that"
Headmaster Winston laughed along, "Have a great day Harry"
Harry slowly made his way back to the Great Hall. As they had been seated in alphabetical order Hermione was in the row behind him, "What was that about?"
"They want me…", Harry turned around facing her, "Me! To make a speech about Professor Dumbledore"
Hermione smiled, "Congratulations"
"Ms. Granger…Mr. Potter what can possibly be more important then this?", Professor McGonagall caught the to not paying attention.
Both turning red Hermione and Harry turned away from each other. Ron on the other side of the room shot Harry a curious look.
About a half hour later, after they had collected their belongings, Ron finally met up with Hermione and Harry.
As the three walked down the corridor, the thought of graduation also caused them to think of the past. All the times they'd had together, and how they were all about to end.
"It's sorta sad", Harry frowned, "That this is all over I mean"
"We still have the summer though", Ron reminded Harry.
"Not me", Harry shook his head, "I've got a lot of cover up stories to tell once Malfoy lets the information about me out…this summer is not going to be summer for me. This summer's going to decide my future"
"I dunno what your worried about", Ron shrugged, "Who'd vote for the Malfoy's over you two?"
Hermione sighed as she saw a small first year walk by. She picked up her pace walking next to the young girl, "Seven years is going to go really fast….enjoy it okay?"
The girl looked up at Hermione as if she were nuts, "Alright"
"Hermione…your scaring people", Ron pulled her away.
"Remember us first year?", Hermione laughed, "We thought Snape wanted to kill you"
"I'd say its quite an accomplishment for me to still be alive", Harry joked.
The three all laughed, "You know Harry…what you said a few weeks ago though…it wasn't rubbish. This is the next stage in our lives. And while it's sad to see our childhood leave…it's sort of exciting all the same"
"I never really thought we'd ever really graduate…it just seemed like an endless fantasy", Ron added, "So much has happened to us…you know how many memories Hogwarts holds? Not just for us but I mean…you know how many other kids have gone through the same thing we are?"
Hermione smiled at Ron, "I knew you had it in you Ron"
"What?"
"After all these years I've finally got you to say something extremely intelligent", Hermione teased.
Harry laughed, "Well it doesn't matter where we are…were always going to be friends"
"Harry's right", Hermione nodded, "nothing could tear us apart"
Throwing and arm around each friend, Harry spoke from the heart, "Thanks for putting up with me these past seven years. I know it hasn't been easy. And I know I've done stupid things…and it seems in my genes that I'm going to do a lot more but…you could've said goodbye after first year. And you didn't"
"Well of course we didn't…we've all done stupid things Harry", Hermione turned her head toward Harry.
"I know", Harry nodded, "But I just wanted to make sure I thanked you"
And at that moment, although it wouldn't last as it never did, everything seemed perfect. And Harry, Ron, and Hermione wished they could stay in that moment, forever.
***************
Author's Note:
Okay, so it was a little shorter than usual. But that's only because I also gave you chapter three to Brotherly Love this weekend! And I've been working on this for a major portion of the day and I figured you'd rather have something then nothing.
Were winding down to the end of this things so please! Let's bring in the reviews so I can meet my goal! But I also apologize that I don't have enough time to review…but I thought you'd rather have the story than wait.
Hope You Enjoyed!
AngelDusterBuster
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