A/N: WHY do I insist on writing without a plan??? I never end up typing what I set out to type. Meh. You people seem to like it anyway, so I guess it's okay. Sorry this took so long, but I was busy seeing the second movie again (our theatre re-opened it for March Break) and getting my stupid Diphtheria immunization (I HATE needles!!). I am also sorry about the horrible format of the lyrics in the last chapter, but my computer likes to be a pain in the you-know-what.
Disclaimer: As I read in someone else's disclaimer: I do not own these characters; they own me. All of you who have seen me write know that this is damn well true.
Huggles to all of my –1- reviewer (popular, aren't I?!)
Devilish Potter- I'm working on it! I'm glad you think it's awesome, because I
sure as hell don't. But then again,
I've had people tell me before that I'm a BIT too self-critical. Maybe this is one of those times.
Chapter 3
For what I became a King of the lost?
Barren and lifeless the land liesThe portrait swung open, revealing the Gryffindor common room. What was left of the crowd had gathered there, waiting for Harry. He was their last hope, their only hope. If he failed, the wizarding world would be exploited without censor, muggles would be killed, and chaos would reign supreme on the planet.
A large table had been brought up and placed in the center of the room. The group sat around it, leaving one of the two chairs at the head empty. A pale Albus Dumbledore occupied the other. To the left of Harry's chair was the seat of Ron Weasley. Hermione Granger sat across from him, next to Dumbledore. Professor McGonagall was beside Hermione, across from Draco Malfoy, and next to Professor Snape. Sirius Black occupied the seat next to Draco. The others at the table had no specific place. These others consisted of Fred, George, Ginny and Charlie Weasley, Remus Lupin, Seamus Finnigan, Professor Flitwick, Alastor Moody, a dozen of the Hogwarts house elves, and around twenty little known witches and wizards from Great Britain. Hagrid took up a larger than normal chair at the opposite end of the table. Fawkes was also present, bringing a small sense of peace to the anxious wizards and witches.
Harry sat down, and looked around the table. They were a pitiful group. They would not last through this battle against the mass of Dark Ones outside the castle. "This is it. We are the last of the Order of the Phoenix. Our fate is decided today, on these grounds which we have worked so hard to protect." He paused before continuing. "Our spy, Draco Malfoy," he nodded toward the Slytherin boy, "has told me that there are one hundred and fifty Death Eaters and supporters out there, and forty dementors. Unfortunately, we do not know what kinds of creatures they possess, if any."
Snape interrupted Harry. "I believe I can spread some light onto that particular question. One of the supporters I spoke with had been sent to secure some beasts. He said that the Dark Lord had demanded a chimaera, graphorns, a manticore, quintapeds, and a few runespoors. We could have some trouble on our hands."
As if we don't already, Harry thought to himself. "Hagrid," he addressed the large man, "what do you think?"
"Yeh've got trouble, I can say that. The quintapeds should be easy enough ter kill; they've got no protection from magic. Runespoors too. Yeh've only got ter hit 'em once with a spell an they're down. Yer gonna have trouble with th'others, though. Graphorn hide's stronger than dragon's, an they've got two sharp horns on their 'eads. Chimaeras have lion 'eads an dragon tails. Yeh don' have to worry 'bout the middle, s'only a goat. If yer strong enough, it should be killed easily. Th'only problem is, no one's strong enough. Manticores'll be the worst. Its got a man's 'ead, the body of a lion, an the tail of a scorpion. The skin's as strong as a dragon's, an the sting kills yeh instantly."
Ron, once again desperately looking for a bright side, piped up. "Well, at least they haven't got a basilisk."
Hagrid shook his head. "Yeh would've preferred a basilisk ter this lot, Ron."
Ron went very pale and sunk low in his seat. Harry pitied his friend. He knew that Ron wanted to cheer everyone up, but this situation had no light. They were indeed doomed.
"What are we going to do?" Ginny spoke for the first time. She looked to Harry, her brother, and Dumbledore for her answer.
"I don't know," Harry replied, shaking his head. "I just don't know."
"You must do…whatever…you can. It is…all that you…can do."
Harry turned to Dumbledore. "Sir?"
"Harry…You must set…each person to…a task which…they can…do. Each of you has…a special skill. You must…use them…now." Dumbledore lay back and was silent. McGonagall rushed over and checked his vital signs; he was still alive, but barely. Harry gestured to her, and she brought the Headmaster back to his office.
"You need more time to think, don't you?" Hermione asked Harry, noticing the expression on his face. Harry nodded gratefully. "We'll leave you alone for a bit then." Everyone rose to leave their leader to think.
"Wait. Ron, Hermione and Ginny, stay with me. I need to talk as much as I need to think."
The three that Harry had requested stayed behind. The others left Gryffindor tower, preparing themselves in their own was for the battle that was to come. Harry moved to the couch in front of the fire and fell into the cushions. Ginny walked over and sat next to him. The other two followed her, Ron squishing in next to his sister, Hermione sitting on the armrest next to Harry.
"Why am I the one to do this? Why do people follow me?" Harry thought, half to himself, half out loud. Ron began the answer.
"You're our friend. We've followed you before, and we'll always follow you."
"Dumbledore chose you to take his place," Hermione added. "He believed that you would lead us to our fate, whatever it may be."
Ginny answered his questions last. "You are The Boy Who Lived. You faced these same dangers before you could walk or talk, and you survived. You have an aura of command, compassion and determination. You know what needs to be done, and you do it. You aren't afraid of what will happen to you, only of what will happen to others. You possess the same qualities that made people believe in Dumbledore. That is why so many entrust their lives to you, Harry."
"Then once again, I must do what needs to be done. The last battle will be fought soon. Let us hope that the trust of these people has not been wrongly placed."
A/N: That was A LOT sappier than I intended it to be, but my fingers rule my brain, and they're the ones that type this. Just so you know, not that you really care, until the end of this fic, when the killing is strategic and logical, the people that die and are dead have been knocked off because I either don't like them or don't want to write about them. I MIGHT BE GETTING A BUDGIE!!! My sister and I have decided that we want a budgie (since it's about the only thing other than fish that we CAN have. Stupid allergies), and I thought we could name it Pippin. If you have any REALLY good budgie names, let me know.
As I have said, I still need a Beta, so e-mail me or review if you want to, and I'll consider it. Thanks a million.
All hail the pretty purple button! Long live the review box!
~~ Aindel ~~