Chapter 24 - Time Flies

Time at Hogwarts passed quicker now, than Harry had ever experienced before. Lessons came and went, Harry not doing too badly, due to immense amount of help from Hermione, who understood that harry needed it, with the pressure on him mounting. Harry wanted to catch hold of time and pull it to a standstill but it rushed by. That was why he was glad when he had lessons with the Slayers, they were the only time Harry truly felt that time went back to normal, and he could stop running to catch up. Their defence lessons were going particularly well. All of them could now sufficiently kill a vampire without too much trouble, and they were improving at demon identification, and other weapons skills. In fact, Harry, Hermione and Ron had been taught how to handle axes and swords. Though no where near as good as the others, they were good enough to utilise their weapons against the vampires that Buffy was now able to create.

"What's going to happen when the war is on?" Harry asked Sirius one day, about a month before the battle, "I mean to the students, will we just stay in the castle?"

"I think so," Sirius sighed heavily, "Dumbledore said all the kids are to stay in the great hall, with Kennedy and Snape."

"Snape?" Harry exclaimed, "Why isn't he fighting." Sirius looked slightly happier as he answered.

"Dumbledore needs him to stay as spy, so he's got to stay out of sight," he said triumphantly, "After all that business when I was stuck in Grimmauld Place, it's nice to have him walk in my shoes for a while."

"So what's the latest on our impending doom?" Xander asked Buffy, after she returned from another strategy meeting in Dumbledore's office, this time with Angel and Moody. Buffy sat down on the nearest sofa in the common room.
"Things aren't looking good," she admitted, "The army is bigger than we estimated, we are looking at more like five thousand."

"But we can handle that," Xander said, moving to sit next to Buffy, "We're the Scoobies, this our what 10th apocalypse? It's nothing."

"It's kinda different thought, "Buffy said, turning to face him, "It's not all on me before. It's sounds stupid, but with Glory, it was simple, I could die and end it. But this time it doesn't rest on me, we are all insignificant. It's Harry that's got to handle it, and he's just a boy."

"You were 16 when you killed Angel," Xander reminded her, "You were just a girl, but you did it."

"I have faith in Harry," Buffy protested, "It's just I don't like feeling useless, it's kinda itchy."

"Welcome to the club," Xander said, pulling her into a hug.

The Aurors arrived at Hogwarts two weeks before the battle was due, and for the first time, Hogwarts felt small. All in all there were about 80 who were to fight against the Death Eaters, a mixture of Ministry Officials and old friends of Dumbledore. All the current members of the Order were there, Harry noticed proudly, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Tonks, Emmeline Vance, Dedalus Diggle, and of course Arthur Weasley. The strategic meetings increased with a vengeance, and many classes found themselves teacher less. Harry was present at some meetings, and not at others. He was glad to be included, but sometimes he wished that he wasn't. The meetings reminded him of just how much rested on him, that deep down whatever they did was futile, if Harry could not perform.

Harry spent much of his time alone before the battle, or with Buffy or Sirius, who he felt were the only ones he could handle being around. He knew that Ron, Dawn and Hermione were upset, but he couldn't be with them, he didn't want to pull them into his despair. But soon he didn't have much choice. He entered the common room the morning after the Aurors arrived and he was ambushed.
"Harry we need to talk," Hermione said firmly, as she pushed him into a chair. He began to speak, but Ron performed the silencing charm on him, and all he could do was mouth uselessly.

"We know why you've been avoiding us," Hermione said commandingly, "But it's ridiculous. We are your friends, we want to help you and be there for you."

"Don't block us out," Dawn continued, pleadingly, "We are going into this battle just like you, and though we don't have to fight, our hearts are out there, and our families and friends." Ron nodded seriously.

"I'm sorry," Harry said slowly, "It's just I'm not exactly the best person to be around. I'm no fun, all I do is think about death. It's not that I don't think you guys will understand, it's just I don't want to drag you into my gloom."

"But we're your friends, Harry" Ron said, "We aren't going to hate you because you've got a huge thing hanging over your head which you can do nothing about. Now we've got a potions class to get to, and if we don't go now Snape's going to turn all of us into horned toads." Harry smiled at them gratefully and took Dawn's hand as they left the common room.

Sirius brushed hair back from Buffy's face as they lay facing each other on his bed. She took his hand, and held it.
"Do you think we'll die?" she said softly, "I mean I know I've died before, but I kind of like living now…"

"We're not going to die," he assured her, "We'd better make sure we don't or this will be completely useless." Buffy frowned in confusion, as Sirius sat up and reached into his pocket, pulling out a small box. He opened it to reveal a simple platinum band, set with a large square cut diamond.

"Will you?" he asked, and held out the ring to her. She took it, looking at it carefully, then she looked up at his face, and examined his eyes carefully. She leant forward and kissed him gently.

"Is that a yes?" he asked nervously. She kissed him again.

"Yes, it's a yes!" she squealed, "Oh my God, this is just like Xander, he was a doofus too. Asking me just before the world ends, you'd better hope we don't die mister." He leapt up and grabbed he in a delighted hug, swinging her round.
"But if I'm going to live with you, at Grimmauld place," she said, wrinkling her nose, "Then we need to do some serious decorating. I mean that. Compete refurbishment. And sorry but that means getting rid of that picture of your mother." He laughed and spun her around again. All of a sudden, a bell went off. They froze.

"It can't be," Buffy whispered, "There's still eight days to go, eight days!" She grabbed Sirius' hand and they ran out of the room.