************CHAPTER THIRTEEN***********
DAY THREE
At 5:45 AM early Thursday morning, Harry Potter found himself staring at the canopy above his four-poster bed. Even after taking a somewhat large dose of sleeping draught, he still couldn't sleep through the entire night. His mind kept going back to the night before.
'All those innocent children. I go away for over a year to keep them out of trouble, but what do they do, but volunteer to put themselves in danger. Every last Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. Why couldn't they just keep out of it and stay alive!'
Needless to say, the raven-haired boy was rambling. It was one thing he did best when he was frustrated with the world. Why would he stop now? It was in this 'staring at the ceiling and not listening' position that Draco found him in at 7:30 when he decided to wake Harry up for the day.
"Harry...."
"...."
"Harry!!!!!"
"....."
"HARRY!!!"
"WHAT THE HELL!" It was at that moment the green-eyed wizard decided to show his gracefulness by falling out of the bed due to complete shock.
"What do you want? Can't you just let a wizard alone in his thoughts for a while?"
"Not when we're due at breakfast in an hour. Come on, Harry. We've got to talk about helping the other students out today, too"
"Go have your breakfast. I'm not going. And if those people want to get themselves killed, let them do it on their own."
"Quite being so melodramatic, Potter. They volunteered to help, and they need to get in tip-top shape so they don't die out there tomorrow. Do you really want Ron and Hermione to go out unprepared?"
"No..."
"Good! Then upsie daisie, sunshine."
"I liked it better yesterday when you were sleeping."
"I always like it better when you sleep. I don't have to hear your annoying voice and pompous attitude."
"Shut up and let's go."
"I knew you'd see it my way," Draco replied with a proud smirk.
*~^~*
After breakfast, the students who had volunteered the night before had stayed in the Great Hall for their one-day crash course in dueling. Harry and Draco had teamed up each student, then went through what they felt were the most useful curses. Most of the students were obviously not meant for fighting. By the end of the day, all the students were at least able to disarm and stupefy. Harry just hoped that they would each be able to take their own when the time came. The heirs decided to break up the training session before dinner, so that each person could get a good nights rest. Before dismissing, Draco strongly urged Harry to leave the students with some words of wisdom.
"Alright. I hope each of you feel comfortable with holding your own now. Tomorrow I want each of you to remember one thing. No one is more important than you. If you start getting in above your head, retreat to the castle immediately. I don't want unnecessary dea- umm- injuries. I also want to give each of you one last chance. If you feel that you shouldn't do this tomorrow, go now. It's not to late. No one will think less of you."
Harry waited for what seemed like an eternity hoping for someone to leave the room. It was with much misery that he realized these students, no comrades-in arms now, were going to stay and fight with holding back.
"Alright then. I want each of you to get a good dinner in you then get straight to sleep. We don't know exactly when they'll be here tomorrow morning, so I want you all in the Great Hall tomorrow by 6:30. If you hear things exploding when you wake up, then it will have probably already started, so hurry your arse up and get down here. Any questions? Good. Good Luck everyone. Remember what I said. No one is more important than you."
*~^~*
After dinner that night Harry went straight to his room. He wanted to be one of the first ones up in the morning, so he could be prepared to fight on his terms. No one was going to catch him unexpected. Draco and he had talked about tactics for fighting at dinner and they had finally decided. Harry just hoped they were lucky enough to actually be able to carry their plans through.
After the long day of dealing for students, Harry was ready to welcome to short sleep he had ahead of him. However, all hopes were thwarted when a faint knock came at the door.
"Draco!" he yelled, making his way to the door. "Why can't you just remember the damn pass-" He stopped as soon as he saw that his visitor was not the expected blonde.
"Hi, Hermione! What are you doing here?"
"Can we talk, Harry?"
"Sure, love, come on in."
The two made their way to the large, comfortable crimson couch on Harry's side of the room. It seemed like forever that the sat their in silence, until Hermione broke in to tears. Her dark-haired boyfriend was immediately by her side, hugging and comforting her with every amount of emotion he could muster.
"Hermione! What's wrong?"
"I- I- don't" *sniff* "want to lose you, Harry." *sniff* "I just got you back! I can't lose you again Harry! I just can't!"
"Shh, love, don't worry. You won't lose me. You'll never lose me. I'm more worried about losing you. I really didn't want you to volunteer to go out there. I didn't want anyone to volunteer to go out there. This is my fight. You guys shouldn't have to be involved."
"What do you mean this is your fight, Harry? This fight was never yours; I just don't understand why you think it is. That- that- evil creature has affected every person that is going out there tomorrow. We have all been involved in this battle against good and evil since we joined the wizarding world and we have all suffered. Even in the time when you were going and there was silence, there was no peace. Tension was thick everywhere. And, with those not stressed out trying to figure out when the next attack would occur, there was a lull into a false sense of security. So you see? No one was or is safe. Those students out there? The ones that you claim are fighting to their deaths? They are fighting for themselves. It is their fight, just as much as yours. They have every right to be out there."
"I'm sorry, Hermione, but I just don't feel that way. I don't like innocent people to die."
"It's not your fault, you know."
"I didn't say it was, Hermione."
A silence fell in the room. Then-
"Just promise me one thing, Hermione"
"What?"
"Keep yourself safe. I don't know what I'd do if I lost you. If something happened, I think I'd lose myself. You are the most important thing in this world"
"Ah... But you're contradicting yourself Mr. Potter. Earlier you stated quite clearly that each individual is the most important thing and to keep yourself safe."
"No, love, I said you were the most important thing. And by you, I mean you. You are my everything."
The two talked for several more minutes before reluctantly separating at the door. Harry immediately went back to his bed, and to his thoughts. He knew that sleep would not come this night, but at least his thoughts could entertain him a while.
************************
a/n Yes, yes. I can hear you all now. Where'd she go? Where'd that ZetaStar girl go? Well don't worry, I'm right here. I had the first page of this written for a while, but the it came. The worse thing ever... Writer's block. Hopefully I won't have that problem in the future...
Well, ok... I admit, it wasn't just writer's block. I did have 3 tests, 3 snow days and a major paper due last week. But see??? Good excuses!!!!
What was that? Yes, I know it's short. But it's here isn't it??? I'll try to get the next chapter out soon. I still have a test on Monday, so we'll see :)
Thanks to everyone that's been reviewing. Here's who I haven't thanks since my last AN. Thanks to: Spencer Nassau, Anonymous, sew2100, Andufeniel, coolone007, Skysong, chrisfaithalin, ALPHA WOLFE, and taself. You guys are the best :) I hope ya'll like this chapter!!
And bet whoever wrote this stupid DISCLAIMER didn't have writer's block. It seems to go on forever: 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.
DAY THREE
At 5:45 AM early Thursday morning, Harry Potter found himself staring at the canopy above his four-poster bed. Even after taking a somewhat large dose of sleeping draught, he still couldn't sleep through the entire night. His mind kept going back to the night before.
'All those innocent children. I go away for over a year to keep them out of trouble, but what do they do, but volunteer to put themselves in danger. Every last Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. Why couldn't they just keep out of it and stay alive!'
Needless to say, the raven-haired boy was rambling. It was one thing he did best when he was frustrated with the world. Why would he stop now? It was in this 'staring at the ceiling and not listening' position that Draco found him in at 7:30 when he decided to wake Harry up for the day.
"Harry...."
"...."
"Harry!!!!!"
"....."
"HARRY!!!"
"WHAT THE HELL!" It was at that moment the green-eyed wizard decided to show his gracefulness by falling out of the bed due to complete shock.
"What do you want? Can't you just let a wizard alone in his thoughts for a while?"
"Not when we're due at breakfast in an hour. Come on, Harry. We've got to talk about helping the other students out today, too"
"Go have your breakfast. I'm not going. And if those people want to get themselves killed, let them do it on their own."
"Quite being so melodramatic, Potter. They volunteered to help, and they need to get in tip-top shape so they don't die out there tomorrow. Do you really want Ron and Hermione to go out unprepared?"
"No..."
"Good! Then upsie daisie, sunshine."
"I liked it better yesterday when you were sleeping."
"I always like it better when you sleep. I don't have to hear your annoying voice and pompous attitude."
"Shut up and let's go."
"I knew you'd see it my way," Draco replied with a proud smirk.
*~^~*
After breakfast, the students who had volunteered the night before had stayed in the Great Hall for their one-day crash course in dueling. Harry and Draco had teamed up each student, then went through what they felt were the most useful curses. Most of the students were obviously not meant for fighting. By the end of the day, all the students were at least able to disarm and stupefy. Harry just hoped that they would each be able to take their own when the time came. The heirs decided to break up the training session before dinner, so that each person could get a good nights rest. Before dismissing, Draco strongly urged Harry to leave the students with some words of wisdom.
"Alright. I hope each of you feel comfortable with holding your own now. Tomorrow I want each of you to remember one thing. No one is more important than you. If you start getting in above your head, retreat to the castle immediately. I don't want unnecessary dea- umm- injuries. I also want to give each of you one last chance. If you feel that you shouldn't do this tomorrow, go now. It's not to late. No one will think less of you."
Harry waited for what seemed like an eternity hoping for someone to leave the room. It was with much misery that he realized these students, no comrades-in arms now, were going to stay and fight with holding back.
"Alright then. I want each of you to get a good dinner in you then get straight to sleep. We don't know exactly when they'll be here tomorrow morning, so I want you all in the Great Hall tomorrow by 6:30. If you hear things exploding when you wake up, then it will have probably already started, so hurry your arse up and get down here. Any questions? Good. Good Luck everyone. Remember what I said. No one is more important than you."
*~^~*
After dinner that night Harry went straight to his room. He wanted to be one of the first ones up in the morning, so he could be prepared to fight on his terms. No one was going to catch him unexpected. Draco and he had talked about tactics for fighting at dinner and they had finally decided. Harry just hoped they were lucky enough to actually be able to carry their plans through.
After the long day of dealing for students, Harry was ready to welcome to short sleep he had ahead of him. However, all hopes were thwarted when a faint knock came at the door.
"Draco!" he yelled, making his way to the door. "Why can't you just remember the damn pass-" He stopped as soon as he saw that his visitor was not the expected blonde.
"Hi, Hermione! What are you doing here?"
"Can we talk, Harry?"
"Sure, love, come on in."
The two made their way to the large, comfortable crimson couch on Harry's side of the room. It seemed like forever that the sat their in silence, until Hermione broke in to tears. Her dark-haired boyfriend was immediately by her side, hugging and comforting her with every amount of emotion he could muster.
"Hermione! What's wrong?"
"I- I- don't" *sniff* "want to lose you, Harry." *sniff* "I just got you back! I can't lose you again Harry! I just can't!"
"Shh, love, don't worry. You won't lose me. You'll never lose me. I'm more worried about losing you. I really didn't want you to volunteer to go out there. I didn't want anyone to volunteer to go out there. This is my fight. You guys shouldn't have to be involved."
"What do you mean this is your fight, Harry? This fight was never yours; I just don't understand why you think it is. That- that- evil creature has affected every person that is going out there tomorrow. We have all been involved in this battle against good and evil since we joined the wizarding world and we have all suffered. Even in the time when you were going and there was silence, there was no peace. Tension was thick everywhere. And, with those not stressed out trying to figure out when the next attack would occur, there was a lull into a false sense of security. So you see? No one was or is safe. Those students out there? The ones that you claim are fighting to their deaths? They are fighting for themselves. It is their fight, just as much as yours. They have every right to be out there."
"I'm sorry, Hermione, but I just don't feel that way. I don't like innocent people to die."
"It's not your fault, you know."
"I didn't say it was, Hermione."
A silence fell in the room. Then-
"Just promise me one thing, Hermione"
"What?"
"Keep yourself safe. I don't know what I'd do if I lost you. If something happened, I think I'd lose myself. You are the most important thing in this world"
"Ah... But you're contradicting yourself Mr. Potter. Earlier you stated quite clearly that each individual is the most important thing and to keep yourself safe."
"No, love, I said you were the most important thing. And by you, I mean you. You are my everything."
The two talked for several more minutes before reluctantly separating at the door. Harry immediately went back to his bed, and to his thoughts. He knew that sleep would not come this night, but at least his thoughts could entertain him a while.
************************
a/n Yes, yes. I can hear you all now. Where'd she go? Where'd that ZetaStar girl go? Well don't worry, I'm right here. I had the first page of this written for a while, but the it came. The worse thing ever... Writer's block. Hopefully I won't have that problem in the future...
Well, ok... I admit, it wasn't just writer's block. I did have 3 tests, 3 snow days and a major paper due last week. But see??? Good excuses!!!!
What was that? Yes, I know it's short. But it's here isn't it??? I'll try to get the next chapter out soon. I still have a test on Monday, so we'll see :)
Thanks to everyone that's been reviewing. Here's who I haven't thanks since my last AN. Thanks to: Spencer Nassau, Anonymous, sew2100, Andufeniel, coolone007, Skysong, chrisfaithalin, ALPHA WOLFE, and taself. You guys are the best :) I hope ya'll like this chapter!!
And bet whoever wrote this stupid DISCLAIMER didn't have writer's block. It seems to go on forever: 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.