The Halls of the Blind
Chapter Thirteen
Final Decisions
One goes through life, making decisions. If we don't regret those decisions, we will be happy with our lives and ourselves. - Halliy-Jayde Marrie Zajicek
A/N: Ok, lots of comments I need to make! Prepare yourself... or you can skip them and just read the story.
frulie: lol... that was a good scene wasn't it? And the top Harry moment of the day was awesome. That was a particularly satisfying part to write. :-D I'm glad you like the way they were interacting. I didn't know how ppl would react to me putting in so much convo... glad you liked! *hugs back* get the next chapter to yours out!! ;-)
eternal cosmos: *snicker* yes, he did seem desperate at that point, didn't he?
Sahira: oh, cool! Yes, I'm sad that this will be ending soon as well... but, oh well, all things must come to an end.
evelia: *returns snog* I'm just glad you keep reviewing... it was a great line. Glad you're happy! I found out what fic it's from... so yeah, alls good.
Marie Black-Last of the Blacks: lol, I dunno... being blind is sometimes an enhancement to... well, sex. The inability to see what happens next is some what of a thrill... but yes, I can see where you're coming from, and I frankly have to agree ;-D that's ok... we all gotta hide sometime.
Cerulean Sky: about time, I know... but, it never seemed the right time, till then... yes, I decided that from the very beginning...
linelen: *snogs you* yes, that was the fic!! Thank you! I went back and re-read that fic... and, there it was!! :-D
psycho tabby cat: the answer is in this chapter :-) glad you like them. I see your concerns about that, and you're right, most people who have been... violated... do have a hard time moving on and experiencing sex... but, I'm modeling harry's actions after me in this fashion. I mean, he has always been a bit stronger than the others, he can move past things faster... at least, that what I think. They are good for each other, aren't they?
On with the story!!
Harry stretched and winced. "Oh, damn." Then, just as fast, he smiled.
"Little-one, the dragon lady is at the door."
"Thanks, Pelikara." He sat up and the door opened.
"Good morning."
"Good morning, Jay."
Halliy-Jayde's eyebrows rose. "Oh my. You do have a nice physique."
"What?"
She snickered. "Nothing, just tell me you're not starkers under that blanket."
"Um..." Harry blushed and pulled the blanket tighter against him. "Actually, I seem to be."
Halliy-Jayde laughed and sat down in the armchair. "Spill, tell me everything."
"I need to get dressed, Halliy."
"Oh, bollocks. You're no fun, Harry."
He just smiled.
She pouted. "Please, tell me?"
He laughed. "All you need to know is my arse is sore, but it was well worth it."
She nodded. "In other words, you were buggered senseless."
"Halliy-"
"Hush up and go get dressed."
Harry stood up, careful to keep the blanket wrapped around him.
"Hurry up, you have breakfast to go to, then classes."
Harry shook his head. "Then why are you here?"
"I came to get the juicy details you're with-holding."
"Good luck," Harry called over his shoulder as he headed toward the bedroom.
She smiled. "I don't need luck, I'm a Slytherin."
"And so am I." Harry shut the door, leaving only a slight crack so he could still talk to Halliy-Jayde.
"Yes, but you were a Gryffindor for five years."
"Just means I'm a tenacious little shit," he said, pulling a shirt over his head.
"Yes, well, I knew that already. You'd have to be a 'tenacious little shit' to get Snape into your bed." she smiled. "As you proved."
"Shut up, Halliy." He walked out of the bedroom in trousers and a jumper, his robes in hand.
"Try not to walk funny, or everyone will know what happened." Halliy-Jayde snickered as Harry turned a lovely shade of red.
Harry sent a glare her way. "The potion will be finished today, right? What time?"
"Probably around supper." Halliy-Jayde just looked at Harry for a moment, then smiled a small smile. "The potion has a shelf life of five years."
"Five years?"
She nodded, and sat back in the chair. "Yep, you can leave it bottled for five years and it will still work."
Harry nodded. "Why did you name it the 'Sanctification Draught'?"
She smirked. "Because I could."
He raised an eyebrow. "It's a bit confusing, don't you think?"
She shrugged. "That's the point."
He pulled his robes on and shook his head. "Just being a general nuisance. Thanks for that information, though, about the... shelf life, did you call it?"
She nodded. "Yea. No problem. Just thought you'd like to know. You already knew that the Echo Location worked indefinitely, right?"
He nodded. "Yes."
"Well, that's good. The headaches go away after awhile as well."
"How'd you know about the headaches?"
"I helped Q with her book and the research. Most had headaches early on, but those gradually faded away as they adjusted to it. Occasionally, in big crowds, they still got their headaches. Whether it was from the amount of movement or the noise, we never determined. A simple Headache reliever gets rid of them." She stood up. "Well, come on, time for breakfast."
"You're eating here?"
"Yeah. Dumbledore said Uncle Remus and I could stay here for a few days. I'll probably leave tonight, though."
"Missing Charlie?"
"Something terrible." She hooked her arm around his and grabbed his book bag. "Besides, I don't want to get suckered into proving my own potions theories, now do I?"
***
Harry found classes difficult to concentrate in. His mind kept wandering back to the potion and the decision he had yet to make.
Oh, he had an inkling of what he wanted to do, but, how many people would think he did the wrong thing? How many people will try to talk him out of his decision? How many people will he disappoint?
Did it really matter? It was his life, wasn't it? He should be able to make his own decisions, shouldn't he? Then, why was this so hard?
I can't make everyone happy, so, maybe, I can make myself happy... Harry smiled as he made his way to supper.
He slipped between Blaise and Pansy. Draco and Hermione sat across the table.
"Harry, after supper, we can go down to the work room, the potion will be finished cooling by then."
Harry nodded his head. "Alright." He dug into his shepard's pie as Blaise, Draco, Hermione, and Pansy held a conversation.
***
On their way down to the workroom, Harry told Hermione and Draco. "Hermione, can you just bottle it for me?"
"About damn time," Draco muttered. "I was wondering when you'd finally say something."
She looked at Draco, and then at Harry, slightly surprised. "You don't want to take it?"
Harry shook his head. "Not right now, no. I talked to Halliy earlier. She said it had a shelf life of five years. I know you spent a lot of time on this potion and you're trying to help, but, I don't think I could handle it."
Hermione nodded. "I was going to caution you on that, actually. It was a concern of mine. Some people never recover from the shock of getting their sight back. I mean, they adjust to being blind, and then to just have a riot of color, movement, and light again..." She shook her head and smiled. "Well, it's no big deal if you do or don't drink it, Harry. I'm just glad I could brew it. Her instructions, while clear, are nothing I've ever seen before. And some of the ingredients..." She shook her head.
"A learning experience, huh?"
She nodded. "You're still going to help me bottle it though."
Harry smiled. "Deal. How many doses did you make?"
"It's a five dose batch."
"We can give the other four to Madame Pomfrey, then."
Draco rolled his eyes. "It be a miracle if she uses them in the next five years."
Harry shrugged, as Hermione reached out and opened the door. "Who else would we give them to?"
It was Draco's turn to shrug.
They went into the room and worked together quietly. Of the five vials, Hermione pushed one into Harry's hand. He smiled slightly and dropped it into his trouser pocket. "Come on. Let's get these to Pomfrey."
***
They had just come out of the hospital wing when they ran into Ron.
Ron rubbed the back of his neck absently. "Hey, Harry."
Harry nodded. "Ron."
"Um, I wanted to apologize. I've been a prat the last few months and, I... oh hell... I just want us to talk again. You too, Hermione. I want the three of us together again..." Harry heard as Ron took a deep breath, and continued in a stronger voice. "Even if that means Malfoy becomes part of the group. I mean, if you guys are still talking to him, he can't be that bad, right?"
Draco sneered. "Gee, thanks, Weasel."
Harry shook his head and Hermione elbowed Draco in the ribs. Draco rubbed his side and smiled at Hermione. "Aw, come on, love, you know I bruise easily."
"And if you don't behave I'll make sure to give you more bruises."
Ron's eyes bugged slightly and Draco snickered.
Harry turned to Ron. "No more acting like a prat?"
Ron smiled. "Well, we all know I can't promise that, I just seem to have that tendency."
"Yes, Ron, you do."
"Oi! You don't have to agree."
The laughter followed them as the walked down the hall and chatted amicably.
***
"See you guys later," Harry said as he walked into his room. He dropped his bag and kicked it to the side. He smiled as he made his way to the couch. His smile widened as he saw the outline of Severus Snape waiting there for him. "Good evening."
"Mr. Potter."
Harry rolled his eyes, went over to Severus, and plopped into his lap. He wiggled slightly and smirked. "Good to see you too."
Severus groaned. "Harry-"
Harry interrupted. "I didn't take the potion."
"Finally make up your mind, did you?"
"Um-hm." Harry leaned in and kissed Severus.
***
Dumbledore tapped the side of the goblet. The ripples made the image inside dissolve. He smiled and leaned back, his eyes twinkling.
A/N: Epilogue next, and then this story is done... then I'll have to write something else for a change...