DISCLAIMER: This story is based on characters and situations created and
owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to
Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros.,
Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is
intended.
((I've made it to the 50th review, which I'm happy about. Anyways, here's chapter 13. Some of the ideas are based loosely on the film Independence Day. This chapter is a bit dark. Lat me know what you think!))
"We will not go quietly into the night...we will not vanish without a fight! We're going to live on! We're going to survive! Today, we celebrate
our independence day!"
-Independence Day
Harry had awoken groggily in the morning only to find he had an owl waiting for him. He didn't even bother to get out of bed, instead reaching over and taking the letter by stretching his arm out. Tiredly he ripped it open to find that Dumbledore was calling a noon meeting amongst the members of the Special Task Force.
Harry sighed with an exhaustion that should never be felt by someone so young. He knew what the special task force was, as did everyone in the order, but no one had dared utter its intent until now. The special task force was hand picked wizards and witches whose sole purpose in this mission was to take out Voldemort or die trying. He slowly rose out of bed and stretched before throwing on a pair of pants over his boxers and pulling a wrinkled shirt on over his head. He headed for the bathroom and soaked under the hot water for a long time, preparing for what promised to be a very trying day.
So it was that Hermione had from noon until 6:00 when the order meeting would take place to herself. She planned to hit the books hard, the silence and freedom from distractions would allow her to concentrate on researching new spells for her and Ron to teach their attack squad. She had the clear intent of setting out her books, parchment and quills and not moving until 5:30. However, she had forgotten one crucial fact; she wasn't alone.
Just as she got started Chrome wandered his way into the study where she was working. "Chrome!" she said with exasperation, "I need this study time! Do you want something?"
Chrome gazed at her for a long period of time, making her grow uncomfortable. She went to ask him again if he wanted something, but he suddenly began to speak.
"I have a choice to make." He said firmly. "I have had thousands, or millions of choices to make in my life time, but I can't make this one." He suddenly looked shy, something that seemed so utterly uncharacteristic of the quiet but concieted man, who always looked as though he were on the edge. His conversation seemed to quickly change topic. "What does that paper say on your wall?" He looked a bit closer and read, "Not all who wander are lost."
"It was written by the famous novelist J.R.R Tolkien, he wrote." Hermione began to explain, but Chrome cut her off.
"I'm not as stupid as I seem. I know who he is. The quote is good in theory, but it may lead people to forget that some who wander, are in fact lost."
Hermione had suddenly become intrigued. She had no idea where he was going with this, but when he put it in an academic field, her specialty, she felt the conversation spring to life. "Perhaps we are actually related" she mused to herself. Finally she asked, "What are you trying to say Chrome? That you're lost? That someone else is lost?"
Chrome smirked bit, showing slight traces of that cocky, "I'm better than the law" attitude that made her want to punch him in the face. He responded, "Maybe I'm lost. I just don't know what to do." His voice had a tinge of nearly disguised despair, but Hermione heard it none the less. He continued, "Why should I suffer the same fate as you all? I see it in your eyes, the fear, the doubt. Many will die, that is the one sure thing in this mission. I should leave you all to die, but I can't and I don't know why." His voice suddenly sounded angry. "Give me one good reason why I should care to help protect a group of people who mean nothing to me?!"
Hermione blinked. She found it hard to believe what she was hearing. He looked dangerous, his anger bringing back that malicious glint that sometimes flickered there. She finally found her voice, and said softly, gently, "Perhaps there is still some human left in you Chrome. Maybe, even after every crime you've committed, every sorrow you've suffered, you still have compassion."
Chrome stared off at the wall. A long silence lapsed. "I will do what it is Dumbledore asks of me, though I do not know why. I will lay my life down for a cause I do not understand." He stood, and left without as much as another word.
Hermione felt pity for him for the first time in her life. It was not the same sort of sorrow she felt for Harry, who had been damaged severely by the world, and who had been harnessed with a burden too heavy for even one hundred men. This pity came from the realization that Chrome was ignorant in a world where he seemed to have seen and to know more than he should. He was ignorant on how to be feeling, because he had never had compassion aimed towards himself. Hermione had feared the same would become of Harry, but he was pulling through, because he had the love and compassion of so many. Chrome did not, and he struggled to understand it all. Yet he agreed to march into what could potentially be his ruin, and saddest of all, if he died, would anyone care? He had no family to truly grieve his death, for in their mind he was already dead. His gang members would probably move on, though of that she could not know. They would probably miss him, but there are no tears for the rugged criminal.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Order meeting had made unpredictable progress. A system for training for the upcoming events had been organized, and now the order would meet twice a week for personal training, and the individual squads would meet several times a week so that the new recruits could be trained. The system was well organized but had required much debate and controversy.
By the time Hermione, Harry and Chrome arrived back at the flat, they felt deeply burdened, and Harry and Hermione hoped to shed that burden at the twin's party. Chrome on the other hand, had different plans. He needed to call Rex Carlet to get him to pick him up so he could reclaim the rest of his possessions and get to work on his part of the deal. He didn't expect to see either of them until the next Order of the Phoenix meeting. He headed off and Harry and Hermione went to their separate rooms to get cleaned up.
Harry, going as "James" hoped the night would be care free, and that he'd have a chance to see old friends without revealing his identity. He wanted to forget about all of the troubles facing them and relax. Have a few drinks with Ron, steal a couple moments with Hermione and see who had changed since the years he'd been missing. He pulled on a clean black tee shirt, loose fitting jeans and placed his contacts on. He doubted any one who didn't already know would recognize him, and covered the scar as a last step in concealing his identity. It was understood that everyone would be allowed to know him, as James Evans, as long as they said he was a member of the Order, since everyone at the party already knew about the Order of the Phoenix, just not about Harry.
Once Harry was sure his identity was concealed, he stepped out into the hallway to see Hermione coming out of her room as well. She was dressed nicely and had tamed her bushy hair. She looked beautiful as always to him, and he smiled at the site of her, his concerns slipping away into oblivion.
Hermione smiled back at him, seeing how handsome he looked and how well the shirt he was wearing did justice to his well defined muscles. Suddenly she frowned a bit, realizing that other girls at the party would notice this as well, and undoubtedly be all over him.
Harry noticed the slight frown, and as they made their way outside, he asked, "What's wrong?"
"Oh nothing, a stupid passing thought." She answered quickly, ashamed that she had let such a jealous thing bother her.
"Oh really? I didn't think you ever had stupid passing thoughts, only brilliant ones."
"Ha ha, oh you are hilarious, picking on my intelligence. Jealous?" She teased.
"Of course not, I have you on hand to do all the intelligent thinking, so why should I be jealous of that?" He joked back, taking in her lovely smile. That troubled him for a moment. Would other guys notice that too?
Hermione noticed his change in attitude, and she questioned him this time, however, unlike her, he answered.
"I'm just worried that I may not be the only guy who notices how beautiful you are." He admitted.
Hermione laughed a bit, "Oh Harry, you hardly need to worry. Even if that does happen, I'll just brush him off; there isn't a single man I would choose over you."
Harry beamed at this and nodded contently. Hermione on the other hand was not so pleased because now she was back on the thought of other girls hitting on Harry, and she told him so.
He stopped her in the middle of the path and pulled her close to him, kissing her so hard her head spun. "How's that for insurance?" He finally said, breathless.
"Hmm. I think I need some more." She said, but he just shook his finger at her playfully and continued off down the road, leaving her frustrated.
He could already feel his burden growing lighter and he managed to push the Order, Voldemort, and any other terrible thoughts to the back of his head for the time being. He knew they would submerge later, and he would again be seized by despair, but for now he could just focus on the night, crisp and young in the frigid December air.
When they arrived at the party they were quickly separated, Ron dragging Harry one way to meet with their old dorm mates, Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnegan and Neville Longbottom. Hermione was taken the other way by Ginny who was talking excitedly about how her last year at Hogwarts was finally over and what plans she had for afterwards.
Ginny led Hermione to the dining room of Fred and George's house, where the music wasn't quite so loud and the crowd had clearly narrowed down to just a group of girls, amongst who were Lavender Brown, Pavarti and Padma Patil, and Cho Chang. Hermione took a seat at the table and Ginny went over to get them all some drinks. The other girls chatted, but Hermione paid them no attention. Instead her attentions were distracted by an odd picture framed on the wall. When Ginny returned, Hermione took the opportunity to inquire about it.
"Oh that?" Ginny said with a laugh, pointing to the picture that looked as though it was of some sort of odd metal contraption, engraved with intricate designs. "Fred and George don't even know what it's of. They've taken up a stupid hobby of going to auctions and surprising the other bidders by winning with all the money the Weasley Wizard Wheezes is making them. They just got that to show off because some man at the auction wanted it very badly and was apparently being 'snobby in bidding' as they put it. So, they decided to win it for themselves but it has no purpose to them."
Hermione found the whole situation very odd, but didn't push Ginny for further details, for at that moment Pavarti entered to room and asked loudly, "who's the drop dead gorgeous man I just saw?" Everyone gave her an odd look, and she continued, "Black hair? Green eyes?"
Ginny laughed a little and explained, "That's James Evans. He works for the Order."
"The real question is, is he single?" Pavarti asked, obviously impatient for answers.
"No!" Hermione blurted out, causing Ginny to give her an odd look. "He's with me." She added a bit sheepishly.
Cho seemed very pleased by the fact that Hermione was dating again, and the other girls (except Pavarti, who looked a bit downtrodden) were excited and took turns running out to see what he looked like. Ginny however, who knew that James Evans was in fact Harry Potter, looked as though she were in shock.
"Hermione and Harry?" Ginny mused, trying to put two and two together. "There's a couple I never would have expected. Yet Harry's so different.. So changed. I wonder why they didn't tell us until now."
Of course, it didn't even take the time for Ginny to think those exact thoughts before the news had spread all about the party that the two were dating, and everyone in the Order who knew Harry's real identity was thinking similar thoughts.
After the excitement settled down the girls strayed away from the conversation, spent a brief time on Quidditch, then clothes, and finally Lavender managed to steer it back to where she wanted it. boys.
Hermione sighed and rolled her eyes as Lavander blabbed on and on about how wonderful Seamus was, and what she had bought to give him for Christmas, and a thousand stupid other things.
A nasty little voice in the back of Hermione's head was saying, "So what if you bought him a new sweater Lavender? The mission kicks off the day after Christmas, so he'll probably never get the chance to wear it." She quickly stifled those depressing thoughts and tried to rejoin the conversation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Harry had come to realize that joining up with a crowd of people again after so many years was harder than he'd thought. He found a dark corner to sit in by himself, and he watched the crowd of people.
"In a month they could all be dead." He thought to himself, looking at every young and happy face. Suddenly, images of the past rushed over him, memories of death and pain. He found himself placing the face of every person who passed him onto the many dead bodies he had seen. The picture was becoming gruesome, and unable to stop he closed his eyes. He had thought he was more or less healed, that being with Hermione had erased all that pain, but he began to realize it would never completely leave him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ginny was getting onto the topic of how she couldn't wait until she finished at Hogwarts and hoped she could convince her mother to let her move in with Dean Thomas since Ron had been aloud to move in with Cho. Suddenly, Pavarti sighed loudly and exclaimed, "Am I the only single one here?"
Everyone laughed a bit, and Cho tried to comfort her saying, "oh don't worry Pavarti, there's plenty of great single guys out there looking for someone just like you. For example there's." Cho trailed off trying to think of someone when Ginny came to her rescue, blurting out, "Chrome Granger!"
Hermione gaped at her, and everyone else, not knowing who Chrome was gave her curious looks.
"Don't give me that look Hermione, just because he's your brother doesn't mean he isn't gorgeous." Ginny said, trying to defend herself.
"You have a brother Hermione?" Lavender questioned, her gossipy side getting the best of her.
Hermione was growing very frustrated. "Yes, I do, but he's a criminal and a keeps to himself type person. Honestly Ginny, what sort of suggestion is that?!"
"It wasn't a suggestion, it was only an example!" Ginny said, exasperated. "He is single right? Plus, he is very handsome."
"Really?" Pavarti squealed, clearly missing the part where he was a criminal.
As Ginny proceeded to describe him, Hermione got up and left. So far the conversation had covered every male she was in close acquaintance to except Ron, and she expected the conversation would turn there soon as well. At that point she could expect Ginny to leave the room also.
As Hermione traveled through the house, the music got louder and louder as she got closer to its source. As she entered the area where most of the people were congregated, she noticed that Ron, a bit drunk, had stood up of a table to make an announcement.
People quieted down a bit, and the music was shut off. Hearing the halt in noise, the other girls came into the room to investigate. Cho made a motion to get Ron down from the table, but Hermione and Ginny stopped her, both curious to hear what Ron had to say.
Ron swayed on the table a bit, and regained his balance. His face went from a goofy grin to suddenly very serious, almost too serious for Ron. His arms were slightly held out to keep his balance, and the blue party torches the twins had lit gave his face an eerie expression. The scene reminded Hermione of when the night she had watched Harry sitting by the window, lightening lighting up his expressions. Such a blend of black and blue created the darkest of images, and Hermione was almost a bit frightened.
Finally Ron spoke, and all the years of hardship came out in his voice. The pains that were never reflected in his young freckled face came out through the sound of his voice. All the fear he had felt at eleven, on a dangerous conquest for the Sorcerer's Stone, the horror he had experienced upon hearing that Ginny had been taken into the Chamber of Secrets, the betrayed feeling of knowing his pet rat had actually been a betrayer of his best friends parents, and the feelings of loneliness at his best friend's suspected death. Thousands more pains and fears made his voice sound cracked and old, and yet he spoke.
"I have never been good with words, though I may seem to talk a lot. Yet, I stand here, and look at my friends, my family, my love, and I know I need to say something. Something in the face of this oncoming darkness must be spoken and while I should not be the one to say the words, I find myself standing on this table speaking." Ron took in a deep breathe and many thought he might collapse with drunkenness, yet none made a move to stop him. Ron was just drunk enough to speak the thoughts of all, so they let him continue. "Soon we will train so that we may march into our potential deaths. I'm fed up to the ears with old men dreaming up wars for young men to die in ((A/N: George McGovern's quote)). Yet, we shall not pass into the face of this war without a sound, because this is our chance to make a stand. This is our war, our chance to become heroes. So we will face the day with bravery, and face this night with all recklessness, as though it is our last day on earth. Party like tomorrow is the day we die, because tomorrow we will begin to go silently into training. Let our voices be heard tonight!"
As Ron's speech had continued, he had captivated the crowd so that it was silent as a graveyard. Never would anyone have expected Ron to speak such words, everyone delivered with more intensity than the last, a slur of heart felt emotions that had been pulled out by liquor, but once exposed left not an eye dry. So it was that at the end, a cheer went up from every person, even Harry, who had stood quiet and valiant in the corner. The music resumed and they danced, drank and laughed like it was their last day on earth to enjoy themselves. They would not go quietly into the night.
((I've made it to the 50th review, which I'm happy about. Anyways, here's chapter 13. Some of the ideas are based loosely on the film Independence Day. This chapter is a bit dark. Lat me know what you think!))
"We will not go quietly into the night...we will not vanish without a fight! We're going to live on! We're going to survive! Today, we celebrate
our independence day!"
-Independence Day
Harry had awoken groggily in the morning only to find he had an owl waiting for him. He didn't even bother to get out of bed, instead reaching over and taking the letter by stretching his arm out. Tiredly he ripped it open to find that Dumbledore was calling a noon meeting amongst the members of the Special Task Force.
Harry sighed with an exhaustion that should never be felt by someone so young. He knew what the special task force was, as did everyone in the order, but no one had dared utter its intent until now. The special task force was hand picked wizards and witches whose sole purpose in this mission was to take out Voldemort or die trying. He slowly rose out of bed and stretched before throwing on a pair of pants over his boxers and pulling a wrinkled shirt on over his head. He headed for the bathroom and soaked under the hot water for a long time, preparing for what promised to be a very trying day.
So it was that Hermione had from noon until 6:00 when the order meeting would take place to herself. She planned to hit the books hard, the silence and freedom from distractions would allow her to concentrate on researching new spells for her and Ron to teach their attack squad. She had the clear intent of setting out her books, parchment and quills and not moving until 5:30. However, she had forgotten one crucial fact; she wasn't alone.
Just as she got started Chrome wandered his way into the study where she was working. "Chrome!" she said with exasperation, "I need this study time! Do you want something?"
Chrome gazed at her for a long period of time, making her grow uncomfortable. She went to ask him again if he wanted something, but he suddenly began to speak.
"I have a choice to make." He said firmly. "I have had thousands, or millions of choices to make in my life time, but I can't make this one." He suddenly looked shy, something that seemed so utterly uncharacteristic of the quiet but concieted man, who always looked as though he were on the edge. His conversation seemed to quickly change topic. "What does that paper say on your wall?" He looked a bit closer and read, "Not all who wander are lost."
"It was written by the famous novelist J.R.R Tolkien, he wrote." Hermione began to explain, but Chrome cut her off.
"I'm not as stupid as I seem. I know who he is. The quote is good in theory, but it may lead people to forget that some who wander, are in fact lost."
Hermione had suddenly become intrigued. She had no idea where he was going with this, but when he put it in an academic field, her specialty, she felt the conversation spring to life. "Perhaps we are actually related" she mused to herself. Finally she asked, "What are you trying to say Chrome? That you're lost? That someone else is lost?"
Chrome smirked bit, showing slight traces of that cocky, "I'm better than the law" attitude that made her want to punch him in the face. He responded, "Maybe I'm lost. I just don't know what to do." His voice had a tinge of nearly disguised despair, but Hermione heard it none the less. He continued, "Why should I suffer the same fate as you all? I see it in your eyes, the fear, the doubt. Many will die, that is the one sure thing in this mission. I should leave you all to die, but I can't and I don't know why." His voice suddenly sounded angry. "Give me one good reason why I should care to help protect a group of people who mean nothing to me?!"
Hermione blinked. She found it hard to believe what she was hearing. He looked dangerous, his anger bringing back that malicious glint that sometimes flickered there. She finally found her voice, and said softly, gently, "Perhaps there is still some human left in you Chrome. Maybe, even after every crime you've committed, every sorrow you've suffered, you still have compassion."
Chrome stared off at the wall. A long silence lapsed. "I will do what it is Dumbledore asks of me, though I do not know why. I will lay my life down for a cause I do not understand." He stood, and left without as much as another word.
Hermione felt pity for him for the first time in her life. It was not the same sort of sorrow she felt for Harry, who had been damaged severely by the world, and who had been harnessed with a burden too heavy for even one hundred men. This pity came from the realization that Chrome was ignorant in a world where he seemed to have seen and to know more than he should. He was ignorant on how to be feeling, because he had never had compassion aimed towards himself. Hermione had feared the same would become of Harry, but he was pulling through, because he had the love and compassion of so many. Chrome did not, and he struggled to understand it all. Yet he agreed to march into what could potentially be his ruin, and saddest of all, if he died, would anyone care? He had no family to truly grieve his death, for in their mind he was already dead. His gang members would probably move on, though of that she could not know. They would probably miss him, but there are no tears for the rugged criminal.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Order meeting had made unpredictable progress. A system for training for the upcoming events had been organized, and now the order would meet twice a week for personal training, and the individual squads would meet several times a week so that the new recruits could be trained. The system was well organized but had required much debate and controversy.
By the time Hermione, Harry and Chrome arrived back at the flat, they felt deeply burdened, and Harry and Hermione hoped to shed that burden at the twin's party. Chrome on the other hand, had different plans. He needed to call Rex Carlet to get him to pick him up so he could reclaim the rest of his possessions and get to work on his part of the deal. He didn't expect to see either of them until the next Order of the Phoenix meeting. He headed off and Harry and Hermione went to their separate rooms to get cleaned up.
Harry, going as "James" hoped the night would be care free, and that he'd have a chance to see old friends without revealing his identity. He wanted to forget about all of the troubles facing them and relax. Have a few drinks with Ron, steal a couple moments with Hermione and see who had changed since the years he'd been missing. He pulled on a clean black tee shirt, loose fitting jeans and placed his contacts on. He doubted any one who didn't already know would recognize him, and covered the scar as a last step in concealing his identity. It was understood that everyone would be allowed to know him, as James Evans, as long as they said he was a member of the Order, since everyone at the party already knew about the Order of the Phoenix, just not about Harry.
Once Harry was sure his identity was concealed, he stepped out into the hallway to see Hermione coming out of her room as well. She was dressed nicely and had tamed her bushy hair. She looked beautiful as always to him, and he smiled at the site of her, his concerns slipping away into oblivion.
Hermione smiled back at him, seeing how handsome he looked and how well the shirt he was wearing did justice to his well defined muscles. Suddenly she frowned a bit, realizing that other girls at the party would notice this as well, and undoubtedly be all over him.
Harry noticed the slight frown, and as they made their way outside, he asked, "What's wrong?"
"Oh nothing, a stupid passing thought." She answered quickly, ashamed that she had let such a jealous thing bother her.
"Oh really? I didn't think you ever had stupid passing thoughts, only brilliant ones."
"Ha ha, oh you are hilarious, picking on my intelligence. Jealous?" She teased.
"Of course not, I have you on hand to do all the intelligent thinking, so why should I be jealous of that?" He joked back, taking in her lovely smile. That troubled him for a moment. Would other guys notice that too?
Hermione noticed his change in attitude, and she questioned him this time, however, unlike her, he answered.
"I'm just worried that I may not be the only guy who notices how beautiful you are." He admitted.
Hermione laughed a bit, "Oh Harry, you hardly need to worry. Even if that does happen, I'll just brush him off; there isn't a single man I would choose over you."
Harry beamed at this and nodded contently. Hermione on the other hand was not so pleased because now she was back on the thought of other girls hitting on Harry, and she told him so.
He stopped her in the middle of the path and pulled her close to him, kissing her so hard her head spun. "How's that for insurance?" He finally said, breathless.
"Hmm. I think I need some more." She said, but he just shook his finger at her playfully and continued off down the road, leaving her frustrated.
He could already feel his burden growing lighter and he managed to push the Order, Voldemort, and any other terrible thoughts to the back of his head for the time being. He knew they would submerge later, and he would again be seized by despair, but for now he could just focus on the night, crisp and young in the frigid December air.
When they arrived at the party they were quickly separated, Ron dragging Harry one way to meet with their old dorm mates, Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnegan and Neville Longbottom. Hermione was taken the other way by Ginny who was talking excitedly about how her last year at Hogwarts was finally over and what plans she had for afterwards.
Ginny led Hermione to the dining room of Fred and George's house, where the music wasn't quite so loud and the crowd had clearly narrowed down to just a group of girls, amongst who were Lavender Brown, Pavarti and Padma Patil, and Cho Chang. Hermione took a seat at the table and Ginny went over to get them all some drinks. The other girls chatted, but Hermione paid them no attention. Instead her attentions were distracted by an odd picture framed on the wall. When Ginny returned, Hermione took the opportunity to inquire about it.
"Oh that?" Ginny said with a laugh, pointing to the picture that looked as though it was of some sort of odd metal contraption, engraved with intricate designs. "Fred and George don't even know what it's of. They've taken up a stupid hobby of going to auctions and surprising the other bidders by winning with all the money the Weasley Wizard Wheezes is making them. They just got that to show off because some man at the auction wanted it very badly and was apparently being 'snobby in bidding' as they put it. So, they decided to win it for themselves but it has no purpose to them."
Hermione found the whole situation very odd, but didn't push Ginny for further details, for at that moment Pavarti entered to room and asked loudly, "who's the drop dead gorgeous man I just saw?" Everyone gave her an odd look, and she continued, "Black hair? Green eyes?"
Ginny laughed a little and explained, "That's James Evans. He works for the Order."
"The real question is, is he single?" Pavarti asked, obviously impatient for answers.
"No!" Hermione blurted out, causing Ginny to give her an odd look. "He's with me." She added a bit sheepishly.
Cho seemed very pleased by the fact that Hermione was dating again, and the other girls (except Pavarti, who looked a bit downtrodden) were excited and took turns running out to see what he looked like. Ginny however, who knew that James Evans was in fact Harry Potter, looked as though she were in shock.
"Hermione and Harry?" Ginny mused, trying to put two and two together. "There's a couple I never would have expected. Yet Harry's so different.. So changed. I wonder why they didn't tell us until now."
Of course, it didn't even take the time for Ginny to think those exact thoughts before the news had spread all about the party that the two were dating, and everyone in the Order who knew Harry's real identity was thinking similar thoughts.
After the excitement settled down the girls strayed away from the conversation, spent a brief time on Quidditch, then clothes, and finally Lavender managed to steer it back to where she wanted it. boys.
Hermione sighed and rolled her eyes as Lavander blabbed on and on about how wonderful Seamus was, and what she had bought to give him for Christmas, and a thousand stupid other things.
A nasty little voice in the back of Hermione's head was saying, "So what if you bought him a new sweater Lavender? The mission kicks off the day after Christmas, so he'll probably never get the chance to wear it." She quickly stifled those depressing thoughts and tried to rejoin the conversation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Harry had come to realize that joining up with a crowd of people again after so many years was harder than he'd thought. He found a dark corner to sit in by himself, and he watched the crowd of people.
"In a month they could all be dead." He thought to himself, looking at every young and happy face. Suddenly, images of the past rushed over him, memories of death and pain. He found himself placing the face of every person who passed him onto the many dead bodies he had seen. The picture was becoming gruesome, and unable to stop he closed his eyes. He had thought he was more or less healed, that being with Hermione had erased all that pain, but he began to realize it would never completely leave him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ginny was getting onto the topic of how she couldn't wait until she finished at Hogwarts and hoped she could convince her mother to let her move in with Dean Thomas since Ron had been aloud to move in with Cho. Suddenly, Pavarti sighed loudly and exclaimed, "Am I the only single one here?"
Everyone laughed a bit, and Cho tried to comfort her saying, "oh don't worry Pavarti, there's plenty of great single guys out there looking for someone just like you. For example there's." Cho trailed off trying to think of someone when Ginny came to her rescue, blurting out, "Chrome Granger!"
Hermione gaped at her, and everyone else, not knowing who Chrome was gave her curious looks.
"Don't give me that look Hermione, just because he's your brother doesn't mean he isn't gorgeous." Ginny said, trying to defend herself.
"You have a brother Hermione?" Lavender questioned, her gossipy side getting the best of her.
Hermione was growing very frustrated. "Yes, I do, but he's a criminal and a keeps to himself type person. Honestly Ginny, what sort of suggestion is that?!"
"It wasn't a suggestion, it was only an example!" Ginny said, exasperated. "He is single right? Plus, he is very handsome."
"Really?" Pavarti squealed, clearly missing the part where he was a criminal.
As Ginny proceeded to describe him, Hermione got up and left. So far the conversation had covered every male she was in close acquaintance to except Ron, and she expected the conversation would turn there soon as well. At that point she could expect Ginny to leave the room also.
As Hermione traveled through the house, the music got louder and louder as she got closer to its source. As she entered the area where most of the people were congregated, she noticed that Ron, a bit drunk, had stood up of a table to make an announcement.
People quieted down a bit, and the music was shut off. Hearing the halt in noise, the other girls came into the room to investigate. Cho made a motion to get Ron down from the table, but Hermione and Ginny stopped her, both curious to hear what Ron had to say.
Ron swayed on the table a bit, and regained his balance. His face went from a goofy grin to suddenly very serious, almost too serious for Ron. His arms were slightly held out to keep his balance, and the blue party torches the twins had lit gave his face an eerie expression. The scene reminded Hermione of when the night she had watched Harry sitting by the window, lightening lighting up his expressions. Such a blend of black and blue created the darkest of images, and Hermione was almost a bit frightened.
Finally Ron spoke, and all the years of hardship came out in his voice. The pains that were never reflected in his young freckled face came out through the sound of his voice. All the fear he had felt at eleven, on a dangerous conquest for the Sorcerer's Stone, the horror he had experienced upon hearing that Ginny had been taken into the Chamber of Secrets, the betrayed feeling of knowing his pet rat had actually been a betrayer of his best friends parents, and the feelings of loneliness at his best friend's suspected death. Thousands more pains and fears made his voice sound cracked and old, and yet he spoke.
"I have never been good with words, though I may seem to talk a lot. Yet, I stand here, and look at my friends, my family, my love, and I know I need to say something. Something in the face of this oncoming darkness must be spoken and while I should not be the one to say the words, I find myself standing on this table speaking." Ron took in a deep breathe and many thought he might collapse with drunkenness, yet none made a move to stop him. Ron was just drunk enough to speak the thoughts of all, so they let him continue. "Soon we will train so that we may march into our potential deaths. I'm fed up to the ears with old men dreaming up wars for young men to die in ((A/N: George McGovern's quote)). Yet, we shall not pass into the face of this war without a sound, because this is our chance to make a stand. This is our war, our chance to become heroes. So we will face the day with bravery, and face this night with all recklessness, as though it is our last day on earth. Party like tomorrow is the day we die, because tomorrow we will begin to go silently into training. Let our voices be heard tonight!"
As Ron's speech had continued, he had captivated the crowd so that it was silent as a graveyard. Never would anyone have expected Ron to speak such words, everyone delivered with more intensity than the last, a slur of heart felt emotions that had been pulled out by liquor, but once exposed left not an eye dry. So it was that at the end, a cheer went up from every person, even Harry, who had stood quiet and valiant in the corner. The music resumed and they danced, drank and laughed like it was their last day on earth to enjoy themselves. They would not go quietly into the night.