A/N: My beta TigerCat is on vacation so the rest of the chapters will probably contain a few errors. I will try my best to see that it doesn't happen.

Chapter 24- Failure as a Friend

The darkness of the night and sounds of the battle going on all around Ron and Hermione were overwhelmingly frightening. His beloved girlfriend and he were lying near one another on the cold ground motionless. No, they were not dead. This was much, much worse. They were completely paralyzed from a spell cast by one of the death eaters, and they were forced to listen to the horrors happening all around them. 

Useless! That was all Ron could think of right now. I am utterly useless! He had made himself a solemn vow to never allow Harry come to harm again, and now here he was in a body bind, unable to move. He felt like a complete failure when it came to being Harry's friend.  He never managed to do anything useful to save him.

Ron could barely see what was happening to his friends. He was aware that his sister and Neville were lying somewhere not to far off under a petrifying spell. Thankfully, they were oblivious to what was going on around them. That was the only benefit to that nasty spell, you are completely unconscious. He hoped that they wouldn't come to any other harm. Unlike the petrifying spell, a body bind paralyzes the victim, but they left fully aware of everything else going on.

He could just make out Harry and Draco out of the corner of his eye.  He couldn't figure out what they were saying over the noise of the battle, but he could see that Draco was being attacked and pinned to the ground by his own father. The blond haired boy was struggling desperately. Ron then saw that Harry was now lying on the ground with his back arching in the air and his hands clawing at the ground. Voldemort was standing over him with his wand pointing at the boys chest.

NO! This can't be happening! This can't be real! Voldemort was torturing his best friend! Tears began to seep out of the corner of his eyes as he watched Harry writhing in pain. That should be him, not Harry. He had already gone through so much! No longer able to look at Harry in so much discomfort, he shut his eyes tightly.

When he opened them again, he saw Draco crawling towards Harry very slowly. His body was trembling, and from the grimace on his face it looked like it was difficult for him to move. Ron wondered if he had been tortured too. How had he escaped his father? Ron pleaded with his eyes for Draco to release him from the body bind. He wanted to help save Harry and the others, but Draco looked away and continued to crawl toward his boyfriend.

Once Draco had reached Harry, he picked up his unconscious body lovingly in his arms. He stood up gradually, his legs shaking under the increased weight, and began to back away from Voldemort. The Dark Lord appeared to be talking to one of his death eaters and had not noticed his approach.

Suddenly, Voldemort turned around and caught the two young boys trying to escape and brandished his wand. Before Ron knew it, a deadly green light shot out of the end of Voldemort's wand just as a pure white light surrounded Harry and Draco.

The green light was absorbed by the white in a bright flash. Ron looked on in horror as he watched two of his best friends fall to the ground in a blinding light. He was confused by what just happened. Are they dead?  Voldemort looked confused as well.  The white light changed to swirling colors of orange and yellow. The spinning colors began to pulsate faster and faster until suddenly, the orange and yellow light burst forth from the two boys with a violent explosion. A giant shockwave radiated from the flash, and everyone within a hundred yard radius was knocked off of their feet by the sheer blast, including Voldemort.

Ron felt his body pushed by the shockwave a 50 feet farther than he was originally. He turned his eyes towards Hermione wondering what had just happened. Her eyes conveyed that she was confused as well as to what had just occurred.

Turning his eyes back to the young couple, Ron could see that Harry's small body was lying on top of Draco's. It was unclear if they were unconscious, dying, or already dead from Ron's position.

Voldemort rose to his feet in fury. It was obvious that he hadn't expected that explosion to occur either. Seeing that the rest of the people on the battle ground were standing up as well, he turned from the scene and began to run away, casting an invisibility spell as he retreated. He had realized that the blast had left him more vulnerable to being captured.

Many of the death eaters began to do the same. Dumbledore and many members of the order began to chase after them, but were unable to track them once they became invisible. They were too late to stop Voldemort's retreat.

The townspeople who had helped in the battle began to watch over the death eaters that were still stunned, and began to help those who had fallen defending the side of the light. The Dementors had apparently broken out of the shields holding them during the blast and had disappeared into the night.

"Somebody come help us!"  Ron screamed in his head.

Ron waited impatiently for someone to come and help him and his friends. Moody and Tonks had just released Ginny and Neville from the petrifying spell. They clutched at one another crying as they looked around at what was left of the battle that they had missed.

Lupin and Snape then came over and lifted the body binds from Ron and Hermione. The professors looked very much fatigued from the battle that had just occurred and each had a variety of wounds covering their bodies.

"Are you two alight?" asked Lupin brushing his hair out of his eyes.

"Yes, how did this all happen? How did they break through the wards?" asked Ron anxiously.

"The death eaters managed to find a destabilized point in the wards on the northern side of town, but it wasn't weak enough for them to pass through. Someone would have had to penetrate the wards from within, in order for them to have gain access," said Lupin.

"You mean that someone at the party was helping the death eaters?" asked Hermione. She was crying freely now at the thought that someone they knew could have released the terror upon them tonight.

"It looks that way," said Snape. "I have my suspicions, but I unfortunately don't have any evidence. Once this mess gets cleared up, we will try to see if we can detect anyone's magical signature near weakened area."

"Why didn't anyone notice what had happened?" asked Ron.

"The dementors were a convenient distraction," said Lupin. They nodded knowingly, remembering that awful scene when the dementors were circling in around them.

"How are Harry and Draco?" asked Ron as he embraced his sobbing girlfriend. They had been through so much. He hated knowing that Hermione witnessed as much as he had.

"We don't know," Snape said gravely. He and Lupin turned towards the young couple and began to walk over to where they were lying.

Ron could see that Dumbledore and McGonagall were already tending to Harry and Draco. They appeared to be checking for a pulse, and the looks on their faces looked grim. He began walking towards them, holding on to Hermione. Ginny and Neville followed close behind. No one could say anything as they grew closer. At this point Ron would almost rather run away in the opposite direction then to find out what was wrong with his friends. The truth may be more than he could bear at the moment.

Ron looked about the battlefield as they approached the professors. It was surprising that all of the members of the order had survived.  Everyone looked like they may need to visit the infirmary, but they still had all lived. That is what was important.

Ron could see that ten death eaters still stunned had been placed together side by side.  Kingsley and Moody were watching over them until help arrived from the Ministry of Magic. He was glad to see that Lucius Malfoy was among the death eaters who had been captured. That would make Draco very happy.

Then Ron remembered what had happened. He didn't even know if his friends were still alive. Wasn't the green light the killing curse?  The four companions looked down at where Harry and Draco were lying. They both looked so peaceful. He reached down to grasp Harry's hand when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Turning around he saw that Dumbledore was looking at him sadly.

"I am sorry Mr. Weasley, but I am going to have to ask you to step aside so that we may conjure up some stretchers," said Professor Dumbledore. His normally twinkling blue eyes appeared sad and dull, and he appeared older than he had ever before. Ron knew in his heart that he too blamed himself for had come to pass.

"Are they alive?" asked Ron hopefully. Ginny, Hermione, and Neville looked at the professors anxiously.

"Yes, for now at least," said Snape. He looked down at his godson and sighed deeply.

"What do you mean? They could still die? What happened!?!" Ron was getting really upset. The thought of losing Harry was overwhelming.

"All will be explained when we are in the safety of the castle. Please follow us closely until we reach Hogwarts in case there is another ambush," said Dumbledore. Ron and Hermione nodded at him, holding onto one another tightly.

The two boys were arranged on the stretchers, and Ron watched helplessly as Draco and Harry were levitated back to Hogwarts.

"Ron, I am sure that they will be okay. We have to keep hoping that everything will be alright," said Hermione looking up into her boyfriends blue eyes. She could see that he was still distraught with worry.

"What is it?" she asked.

"I wasn't able to do anything to save Harry. I was useless to him once again. We shouldn't even have come tonight. I should have known that this was a bad idea when I heard Snape talking to Dumbledore and that he was actually concerned. Why didn't I think this through?" Ron crossed his arms over his chest and looked at the ground. 

"Ron none of this is your fault. Don't place the blame on yourself; it will only eat away at you. When did you hear Snape talking to Dumbledore?"

"You don't understand! I ran into them talking in the hallway near the dungeons two nights ago when I went to retrieve that library book. I didn't tell you because I didn't want you to worry," confessed Ron.

"What did you hear?" asked Ginny.

"Only that Dumbledore said that they had no reason to believe that the death eaters would attack.  Snape argued that the death eaters were planning an attack sometime this year, and he was concerned about Harry's safety."

"So no one knew for sure that the attack would be tonight?" asked Neville.

"Not as far as I know."

"Then stop beating yourself up over this. Nothing that has happened is your fault. If there had never been a masquerade ball, they would have found some other way to attack Hogwarts," said Hermione.

"That doesn't change the fact that Harry may still die!" Tears began to spill down his freckled face. Hermione embraced her boyfriend and tied to console him, but she knew that he will feel any relief until he knew for sure that Harry would be okay.

As their small group left to follow the professors back to Hogwarts, they could see that everyone was by now working on cleaning up the remains of the battle.  Most of the students had already left the village to go back to the castle. The townspeople were clearing up the damage around their shops and homes.  Hundreds of house elves were magically cleaning up the tables and chairs that had been destroyed in the conflict. Spoiled food lay all over the ground, and several of the torches had fallen over once their lights were extinguished.  Ministry of Magic officials were currently detaining the captured death eaters, and readying them for transport to the prison.

The foursome followed the stretchers through the castle and into the infirmary, but was quickly ushered out by Madame Pomfrey once she saw that they were not seriously injured. They decided to sit outside the school infirmary on some benches while they waited for news on their friends' conditions. Several scared and injured students walked past them and into the infirmary. As far as they could tell, every bed and chair in the infirmary had been occupied by someone hurt in the battle.  Some of the 7th years who intended to study medicine after they graduated decided to help the mediwitch assess everyone's condition.

After an hour or more had passed, Ron decided that he couldn't take it anymore. "They should have told us something by now! I don't care what that damn nurse says, I am going in there and finding out what is wrong with them!" yelled Ron. He leapt to his feet, closely followed by the others and made his way into the infirmary.

Most of the students were bandaged up and were either sleeping or waiting to be treated. They walked past hospital bed after hospital bed, but had yet to see a sign of either boy.  They reached Madame Pomfrey's office, but she was no where to be seen.

"That door leads to a private hospital room," said Neville pointing across the mediwitch's office. "I wonder if they are in there."

Ron nodded at him, and crossed the tiny office. He turned the knob and pulled open the door. Harry and Draco were laying on twin hospital beds on either side of the room. Lupin was sitting in a chair beside Harry, and Snape was sitting beside Draco. Both looked tired and distraught with worry. The injuries that they had suffered from earlier had now been healed, but their clothes were still stained from their own blood. Professor Dumbledore and McGonagall were standing in the middle of the room debating about Harry and Draco's conditions. Upon hearing the door open, they both turned to greet the new visitors.

"I knew that you wouldn't wait out there for very long. Come inside. I know that you would like to hear what has happened to your young friends," said Dumbledore.  He motioned them inside and conjured up four chairs that lined the wall opposite of the beds and near the door. They friends sat down wondering what news they are going to tell them. They turned toward Dumbledore for their answers and were surprised when Snape spoke to them instead.

"It is my fault that Mr. Potter and Mr. Malfoy are currently in this situation," he began.

"What? This is your fault? What happened?" asked Ron heatedly.

"Ron, stop," said Hermione as she put her hand on his arm. "We don't even know what he is going to say."

"Mrs. Granger is correct, and I would kindly ask that you keep your temper in check while I explain what has happened."

Ron nodded and sat back; waiting for whatever this slimy git of a potions master was going to say.

"Everyone in this room now knows of Draco's relationship with Mr. Potter. Draco approached me a while ago, concerned about Harry's safety. He was worried about a possible attack, and he informed me that he knew some information from the prophecy that was destroyed last year."

Dumbledore looked at him suspiciously. "Apparently Harry had told him some of it during one of their conversations," Snape confessed.

"Ahh…I see," said the headmaster.

"I thought know one knew what the prophecy contained," said Hermione. "What did it say?"

Dumbledore looked at his young pupil and replied, "I am sorry, but that is not for you to know." (A/N: I am assuming there is more to the prophecy then Dumbledore has told Harry in book 5, and that he cannot reveal this information to anyone other than him. Either way his friends would be upset to hear that Harry is destined to kill Voldemort, or die himself.).

Hermione crossed her arms haughtily and turned her attention back to Professor Snape.

"As I was saying, Draco was concerned for Harry's safety.  Upon learning a portion of the prophecy I too found it imperative that Harry survives any encounter with the Dark Lord at all costs. I had recently begun to investigate a spell that can save a soul mate from certain death. It is called solara amicus.

The research was originally begun by Harry's mother, Lily Potter. There is only a limited amount of information about it in the ancient texts.  It is believed that once the spell is said, the two bodies would both go into a temporary coma like state, while their souls are thrown into some kind of limbo. Death is prevented by the souls drawing strength from one another."

The room was quiet while they processed this information. Ron looked deeply disturbed by what he was hearing.

"What if this is some death eater trick? What if Snape told Draco to use that spell so that Harry would be more vulnerable to an attack from Voldemort!" said Ron angrily. He never did trust his potions professor.

"Need I remind you that Harry would be dead if it weren't for that spell? He is only alive now because Draco saved his life!" said Snape who was disgusted by his accusation.

"Yes, but how are we to trust you that they are even going to wake up," said Ron.

"We don't know anything for sure," said Snape sadly.

"Mr. Weasley, I think I need to remind you that Professor Snape is a spy for the order. His position as one of Voldemort's death eaters was compromised tonight when he fought in battle on the side of the light.  He would never let any of the students here at Hogwarts intentionally come to harm. What you didn't see while you were watching what was happening to your friends, was that Snape was protecting you from the death eaters.  Some of them had decided to start picking off the students who were stunned, and Snape prevented them from killing you and many others. You should be grateful towards him instead of showing him malice."

"I didn't know that any of that was happening. You were protecting us?" asked Hermione looking at the potions master. He nodded at her.

"But that means… oh my…. you are in great danger…" said Hermione sadly.

"Voldemort knows of his betrayal, but we are going to do everything to ensure that he doesn't die at the Dark Lord's hand," replied Dumbledore.

"But what if he summons you?" asked Ginny.

"I just won't go. Simple as that," said Snape.

"Isn't that painful! I thought that the death eaters had tattoos that alerted them when they are being summoned," she said.

"We do," he replied. Everyone looked at each other knowingly. As long as Voldemort was alive, he would torture Snape through his tattoo for his betrayal.

"You said that death is prevented by the souls drawing strength from one another.  What is the catch?" said Hermione. Ron looked over at her wondering if she suspected something more.

"We don't exactly know what happens when the soul is detached from the body in this way, but it theorized that the souls have to come to terms with has happened in their lives, and choose to live once again. The problem is that if someone cannot accept what has happened in their lives, they will never recover and ultimately die."

"What does that mean exactly?" she asked.

"I mean that a soul has to accept what has happened in its life, no matter what awful things may have occurred. The soul has to want to live again, despite all of the hardships that they will face," said the professor.

"You mean that Harry would have to relive everything that has happened to him?" asked Ron nervously.

"I believe so, yes," said Snape.

"But you don't understand! He will never recover if he is forced to relive what his bastard of an uncle did to him."

"Are you speaking about how Vernon Dursley physically abused Harry?" asked Dumbledore.

"Well, yes, but…"

"Is there more to the abuse than I am aware of?" asked Dumbledore.

"The boy was raped this summer and sexually molested when he was younger," replied Snape matter-of-factly.

Everyone gasped in shock over this new piece of information, everyone that is except Ron.

"How did you know?" he demanded. Hermione looked at him sadly, as she quietly began to link all the clues together. She looked more and more distressed as she analyzed Harry's behavior, and realized that it had to be true.

"Mr. Weasley, I teach him occlumency, remember? I had to probe his mind so that he could learn to defend himself properly," Snape explained.

"And why wasn't I informed of this," demanded Dumbledore of Professor Snape.

"The boy did not want anyone else to know. He was terrified that the papers would find out or something if he was forced to see a therapist. He doesn't trust anyone, Albus."

The headmaster shook his head in dismay. The room was quiet for a long time as everyone processed the new information.

"How long will they be like this?' asked Hermione gesturing towards the bed.

"You are a clever girl for asking these important questions. We think that they have 24 hours for their souls to return to their bodies," said Dumbledore.

"And what if they don't make it back in time?" asked Hermione.

"Then they will both perish," said the headmaster sadly. The four friends looked at one another in despair.  This was worst than they had expected.

 "Are they able to communicate to one another?" asked Neville suddenly.

"What do you mean?" asked Snape.

"Well, they are soul mates, right?"

"Yes, they would have to be or the spell would have never worked."

"Well, that means that they are pretty special. Can't soul mates find one another even in the pits of hell?" asked Neville.

"We are not sure, why?"

"Because they love each other unconditionally, and if anyone can bring Harry back from whatever hell he is reliving, it would be Draco," he said confidently.

"I hope your right," said Madame Pomfrey checking over her patients. "There isn't much that I can do for them."

The small group resolutely began to watch Harry and Draco's sleeping forms, each one hoping beyond hope that they would live to see the light of day once again.

A/N: So what did you think? Let me know in a review. Thanks! This next section is really long, sorry! I don't think I have ever had so many reviews after one chapter.

sylver phantasy- thanks. Sorry about the cliffie.

Fantasy101- sweet chapter? Okay, I didn't expect that response. But cool!

ShaeLynn- thanks

emerald girl- sorry but I have to end the chapter some place. Wasn't that dramatic?

Roxa- thanks

shoushi kuro- volide should die, but we can't have him perish in the very first battle now can we?

Dark_Fox- thanks

The Shadow Bandit-  "Thank you for sharing your story and talent with me". What an awesome thing to say to someone. I really appreciated that comment. Thanks!

ReflectionsOfReality- I thought that something was wrong! Thanks for reviewing again. Wow, I actually got your heart racing. Neat!

MalfoySnogger- I thought the Ginny and Neville thing was sweet too. I thought it was important that Draco defended himself against his father. I wanted Harry to be strong, yet vulnerable. Was I successful?  How could you forget about Solara Amicus! I am glad we cleared up your last review because I was really confused. The fic has changed pace and I am hoping that it continues with the same momentum.

Michelle- you will have to wait and see if Harry can face his nightmares.

bonnie girl- No problem, you didn't insult me. You were just so strong in your convictions I felt the need to explain my reasoning.

Rowenna-  I just meant that Lupin probably knew about him and Draco. After all, he is the DADA professor there and they spend time after class talking. That's all. Their relationship with each other was explained to Pomfrey and Dumbledore by Snape and Lupin while the four friends waited in the lobby. We just didn't see that scene. Does that make sense or am I making too much of a stretch? You got me thinking now. Do you think it is necessary to go back and add something where Lupin learns about them?

Skittles the Sugar Fairy- Yea!!! A new reader. Keep on reading, because I update every day. I hope to read a review again from you.

Devilita- You will have to wait to the bitter end to see if it will be a happy one. Thanks for reviewing.

swimade333- thanks

SoulSister- I was dramatic and thought provoking. Cool! Thanks for reviewing.

canary-cream713- I have difficulty with Rowling killing off Sirius too, but in the back of my mind he is really alive, and she will bring him back. I just can't think otherwise. And yes, I know about the Quidditch thing, but thanks anyways.

I Forget- lol, you are so funny. I can never stop laughing at your comments. Okay, okay you got me. I will tell you the truth, even if you did throw me the wrong chocolate. Voldemort is going to mwh awhe mnd rmwteh…. Oops sorry. I was eating peanut butter and jelly sandwich and that didn't come out right. Voldemort ran away to see that he would live another day. We can't have him die in the first battle now can we?  Muahahahaha *laughs evilly* *cough*cough* I choked on my sandwich! Good bye for now  to the one and only semi-talented fan fic writer who catches everyone else's grammar mistakes, yet is too tired to bother catching her own... okay, that was too funny to pass  up

swimade333- yes, yes I know. Thanks.

Spidermonkey-Demon- don't cry until the end, when you discover if those tears should be of joy or sorrow.

Milkyweed- Thanks for supporting me on the Dumbledore thing.

Kayin-No-Kaze- thanks for the review.