Chapter 11
The next morning, the pair woke up with the sun. Neither of them had gotten much sleep, due not only to the excitement before Christmas but the odd moment they had experienced the night before. Lara got dressed quickly and headed to the common room, where there was a small Christmas tree they had set up a few weeks earlier. She ducked under the tree and dragged out all the presents.
"Some of those are mine you know." Harry said from his position above her, arms folded.
"I know." Lara said unconvincingly. "I was just sorting through them."
"Sure you were." Lara pulled a face at him before selecting the presents in the pile that were hers. She got a beautiful necklace from Sirius, a bottle of healing potion from Hermione and a Quidditch scarf for the Irish team, who Lara supported wholeheartedly. She got several other presents from students in the year, and a collectors edition of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans from Dumbledore.
Harry frowned slightly at this present, thinking that Dumbledore was playing favorites.
"What's the look for Potter?"
"Teachers aren't suppose to favour students." Harry said childishly. Lara rolled her eyes at the Gryffindor.
"Honestly Potter, Dumbledore's more than my teacher. He's been my grandfather for years, looking after me." Harry didn't reply, but instead retaliated with a suspicious glance. "You're so jealous Potter, get over yourself."
"I AM NOT JEALOUS!" Harry roared. Their intimate moment from last night was forgotten as the two began to throw insults at each other. Lara was about to throw her first punch when her body suddenly froze. Lara cursed as she sprang out of the curse.
"What the hell?" Harry asked. It had look very weird to see her aiming a punch and then stopping in mid air.
"Dumbledore's anti-hostility spell, freezes you." Of all the reaction's Lara expected Harry to have, she did not expect him to laugh. "What on earth is wrong with you Potter?" She asked impatienly.
"You can't touch me! I can call you a selfish, stuck up, flat chested bitch and you can't do a thing to stop me!" He said gleefully. Lara opened her mouth in horror at his insults.
"Why you retarded bastard!" Lara spat, her fists curling into balls of rage. It took a lot of stregnth of will for her not to hit him, despite the uselessness of it.
"That's the best you can do Black?" Potter said mockingly, picking up his pile of presents and heading to his rooms, an evil grin still plastered on his face. Lara narrowed her eyes at him before picking up her presents and stomping off to her room.
The rest of the holidays were a very rocky period for the pair. Their brief episode of near-friendship was abandoned for all out hostility, and once they were out of the room the fights could continue unhindered. By the end of the week, Harry was covered in bruises from head to toe, Madam Pomfrey refusing to heal them any more. Lara had managed to heal her own with her advanced magic, but Harry could not as yet heal injuries.
After one particularly nasty fight, Dumbledore called them into his office again.
"For a brief period of time there, I thought my idea to have worked. This past week has proven otherwise." Both Lara and Harry smiled inwardly at this. Perhaps Dumbledore would let them move back to the common room. "I will, however, not remove you from your current lodgings." The inward smiles quickly faded.
"So what are you going to do." Lara asked impatiently.
"You are not allowed to attend meals in the hall. They will now be served in your own quarters."
"That's unfair!" Harry cried.
"No, Mr. Potter, it is not. You refuse to make even the smallest attempt at cooperation, and I have been forced to resort to these measures. You have no one to blame but yourselves. You are dismissed." Dumbledore said, indicating that the conversation was over before the pair could retaliate. Lara stamped her foot in impatience before heading out the door, pushing Harry out of the way on her way out. Harry glanced pointedly at Dumbledore.
"See what I have to put up with?"
"Don't act like you don't deserve it Mr. Potter." The headmaster said simply.
***************
"That is so slack!" Harry roared on their final night before school started. The students had arrived that night, but Lara and Harry had not been able to see them because of their recent punishment.
"What is Potter?"
"How come you get to heal your bruises while I'm stuck limping around?"
"Because I'm smarter than you, and have enough ability to heal them myself."
"Heal me as well, it's only fair."
"No it's not."
"You inflicted this pain on me!"
"So? You inflicted this on me, but I don't see you healing me."
"That's because I can't!"
"Go have a cry about it Potter!" Harry stamped his foot impatiently.
"Bitch." He muttered on his way out, just loud enough for her to hear.
"Bastard." She muttered back.
"Come on." Harry whined from his position on the couch. Lara rolled her eyes before sitting down on the couch next to him.
"Fine, but I want you to realize the only reason I'm doing this is because Dumbledore will kill us if he sees us sporting any more injuries."
"Sure it is... You just can't admit that you care about me."
"Don't flatter yourself Potter." Lara snapped, as she gently touched the bruises around his lips. Harry closed his eyes as she began to work around the bruises around them. He felt rather than saw her lean closer, checking for any other injuries. He could feel her breath teasing his lips, and couldn't repress a shiver as her fingers lightly touched a cut lip, healing it instantly.
What's wrong with me? I don't like her! Harry thought. But she is attractive, with her long hair, and soft, tanned skin...
SHUT UP HARRY! His inner voice interrupted. Harry shook himself out of his state, opening his eyes.
It was a normal teenage boy reaction... he said to himself as Lara finished healing some of the bruises on his knuckles and got up from the couch, heading to her room.
Perfectly normal... He repeated, reassuring himself. It's not because I like her or anything...
***************
"Hey guys! How were your holidays?" Hermione asked excitedly, running up to Harry and Lara outside their transfiguration classroom. She gave the two of them a quick hug before letting them answer.
"Terrible." They said simultaneously.
"Why?" Once again, the pair pointed at each other simultaneously.
"Oh no, please don't tell me you guys started fighting again! You were improving when I last saw you!"
"Yeah well, Potter can't help being the a-hole he is." Lara muttered.
"Much like you can't help being a bitch." Harry retaliated.
"You say that like it's a bad thing!" Lara said, feigning mock hurt. Harry narrowed his eyes at her but didn't dwell on it as at that moment Draco walked up to the group.
"Hey how is everyone?" Draco said, looking from Hermione to Lara and completely ignoring his nemesis between them.
"Disgusting, but I spent it with him. What else can you expect?" Lara drawled.
"Mine were good, I just spent it with the family you know?" Hermione said, smiling. Draco nodded before turning his attention to his girlfriend.
"Before we go into class, could I have a word with you, alone?" He said, emphasizing the final word. Lara nodded.
"Yeah sure, I need to talk to you too actually." She said thinking now was as good a time as any other to break up with him. But despite her inner voice convincing her it was going to be alright, she couldn't help but feel her heart crumble slightly at the thought of what she was about to do.
"Okay, I don't know quite how to put this." Draco started slowly, avoiding Lara's eyes. It was only when a nervous look flashed across his eyes did she finally realize what was going on.
"It's okay Draco, I know you're here to break up with me." Lara said softly. The blonde haired Slytherin almost did a double take at her words.
"W...what? How did you...how?" He said confusedly.
"Well I've noticed for quite sometime that you... er... like someone else."
"Oh... I'm sorry... I..." Lara sighed at Draco's stuttering. This was a nasty way to end a relationship.
"Draco, listen to me. I wanted to tell you something too, remember? I was going to break up with you too, because I realized that I didn't like you, at least not in that way." The boy breathed an obvious sigh of relief at her words.
"Good." He said simply, before Lara started laughing. "What? It's not funny!"
"I wish I had a camera. I think that's the only time in the history of the world anyone has ever seen a Malfoy nervous."
"Funny Lara." He said, not being able to suppress a small smile.
"This won't change our friendship will it?"
"I hope not. You're the only person I can insult who puts up a good fight back, even if you do loose in the end..." Draco said immodestly.
"Shut up." Lara said playfully. "Now, about this Ginny thing..."
***************
"I hope you all had a good holiday, because now we are on to some real work." Mc Gonagall said as soon as the students were seated in class for their first lesson of the term. The class groaned at her opening announcement before rustling to find paper to take some notes.
"You broke up with the wanker didn't you?" Harry whispered to Lara, who was sitting next to him in the transfiguration classroom.
"Yes, for your information Potter, I did. But he isn't a wanker."
"Course he is. All guys wank." Harry said simply.
"I did not need to know that Potter." Lara said, wincing slightly at the thought. Harry grinned at this.
"Aw...is poor Blacky Wacky too pure and innocent for all this naughty talk?" He said in a mock baby voice. Lara narrowed her eyes in anger.
"I may be a virgin," Harry winced at this information, "But I am certainly not innocent."
"Over share Black." The Gryffindor said.
"Now who is innocent?"
"You say that like it's a bad thing." Harry said, in much the same tone as Lara had used not long before. The two couldn't help but grin at this comment.
"POTTER AND BLACK! IF YOU INSIST ON TALKING IN MY CLASS THEN I WILL GIVE YOU MORE TIME TO CHAT IN DETENTION!" McGonagall yelled halfway through her explanation of the lessons work. The pair jumped at her booming voice and fell silent immediately, neither willing to spend any more time with each other than they already had to.
"I can't believe you guys have started fighting again." Ron moaned at lunch that day. Lara and Harry had just gotten into another verbal war, which would have escalated into something more had Hermione not stepped in.
"I can't believe I ever tried to be friends with that anus!" Lara snapped.
"The feeling is mutual Black!" Harry spat. They would probably have continued their fight had Draco not sat himself down beside Ginny on the other side of the table. Harry narrowed his eyes at his nemesis.
"What do you think you're doing here Malfoy?" Harry said dangerously.
"I'm sitting with my friends Potter, do you know what they are?"
"I have more than you Malfoy, so I should."
"Open your eyes Potter. Your friends only hang around you for the fame."
"Better than for money." Potter retaliated.
"That tongue of yours is getting so sharp Potter, that it'll slice your jaw in half one day." Lara said dryly, getting up from the lunch table and heading towards her room. Harry checked his watch quickly before following her footsteps, although purposely walking several meters behind her.
*****************************************************
Lara entered the common room and flopped down on the couch, watching Harry as he closed the door behind her and seated himself on an opposite couch.
"Why don't you like Malfoy?"
"He insults me. Why should I?"
"He doesn't mean it?"
"Well why does he do it?"
"Because his father has a spell on him Potter. He has to keep up the Dark Lord's work here at school, and if Lucius feels any rebellion he puts the Cruciatus Curse on him." Lara said, finally explaining to Harry the true meaning behind Draco's retaliations. Harry stared at Lara, his face softening.
"Oh."
"Yes, oh!"
"Well he's stopped insulting Hermione."
"'Cos he can fight the curse."
"But not enough to stop insulting me."
"Oh no, he does that because you're an annoying git and you deserve it."
"Exactly my point, why should I like him?"
"Well if you tried to be nice to him, maybe he'd return the favor."
"I will when he does." Harry said immaturely. Lara shook her head, muttering something that sounded a lot like 'boys!'
"Are you upset?"
"About what?"
"Malfoy and Ginny." Lara gave Harry a weird look, surprised by this sudden turn into civilized conversation.
"No, I'm not. They both need to find someone, especially, Ginny, that loves them whole heartedly."
"And that isn't what you want?"
"Well I want love, but not the sweet, tender sort of love their looking for. I want something passionate, deep, something that sends me weak at the knees."
"This coming from a girl who doesn't believe in deep love."
"I might not believe in it, but I can still dream."
"Quit dreaming, and start believing. It may come true?"
"Do you believe?"
"Of course." Was the simply reply, as Harry grabbed Quidditch Through the Ages from the floor beside his couch and commenced reading it. Meanwhile, Lara pondered over the conversation she had just shared with Harry. His final answer had surprised her. He had said it so determinedly, like he believed in it with all he was.
He's so passionate about some things, exactly what I want in a guy. You can see it in his eyes, those emerald pools... hang on? What am I thinking? This is Potter! I don't like him, and never will! He's annoying and arrogant and.....
But then... why was her heart beating so much faster?
At that moment, an owl swooped in through the window and dropped two letters in the center table. Lara walked forward and picked up the one addressed to her, motioning to Harry, that the other one was for him. Slowly, the brown haired girl opened her letter and read.
Hey Sweetheart Not sure if Dumbledore's told you yet, but Voldemort's attacked. He hit the ministry yesterday and he's got it under his control and using it as his base. Hogwarts is the only place left that's remotely safe. DON'T LEAVE DUMBLEDORE'S SIGHT FOR ONE SECOND! I do not want you going after this lunatic, he's powerful. Same applies for Harry. Dad PS: Wormtail was captured during the assault by Aurors. He testified, I'm free. When we get out of this war, you, me and Harry are going to buy a flat in London. What do you say?
"CRAP!" Lara cried out loudly, slamming the letter down on the table and kicking the sofa as hard as she could in frustration.
"DAMN IT!" Harry said in much the same tone as Lara had. He had obviously just finished reading his letter, which contained much of the same content as hers had.
"I'm going to Dumbledore, I refuse to sit around and."
"I'm going with you." Harry said abruptly, following the girl out of the door. "What if he says to stay put?" He asked her as they hurried out of their room and down the corridor.
"I don't know about you, but I'm escaping and going after the lunatic."
"You're not going alone." Harry said determinedly. Lara stopped walking and turned to face the brown haired boy, who was looking at her with a face set with determination.
"Thank you. But it's going to be dangerous..."
"I know." Harry interrupted. Lara simply nodded at this. He had been through a lot, she knew he was telling the truth when he said he understood exactly what he was getting himself into.
The two continued to hurry along the corridors, their hatred for one another temporarily forgotten in the light of a bigger adversary. They had just turned right into another wide corridor when they spotted Dumbledore coming the opposite way.
"Professor!" Lara yelled at the approaching Headmaster. He nodded his head slightly, acknowledging their presence.
"I suspect Mr. Black has already written to you." The wizened old man said solemnly as soon as he was closer.
"Yes, he told us everything. Voldemort's attacked the ministry, and it's now under his control." Lara said.
"Did he mention anything about his new allies?" The old man asked pointedly. The pair shook their heads.
"He's gathered up his army again. Vampires, werewolves, Death Eaters, giants, banshees, and demons." Lara paled slightly at the mention of the last abomination.
"Again?"
"Yes my dear. He had offered them a very good deal, as the Lord of Hell himself has descend into our midst to fight in his battle."
"Karadryn." Lara said softly. Dumbledore nodded.
"You realize we cannot just stay here and twiddle our thumbs when the world outside is collapsing." Harry said, crossing his arms in determination.
"I understand your need to help Harry, but this is no ordinary foe."
"We are no ordinary wizards." Lara said, looking up at her headmaster and staring him directly in the eye.
"Perhaps not, but your power does not match his when coupled with the demon's dark magic."
"I defeated them last time." Lara said defiantly.
"The demon's alone, yes. But my belief is that they've combined power with Voldemort. The sort of power we are talking about, if that is the case, is beyond anything you've ever encountered."
"I'm going to the Ministry headquarters, whether you like it or not." Lara said simply.
"I know you are. But you are not going alone."
"Harry is coming too, yes." The green eyed boy nodded in agreement at this.
"And so is Mr. Malfoy."
"No. That is one life I would not risk for the world. His death would haunt me for the rest of my life, I cannot bear that burden Dumbledore." Lara said softly.
"You will need him, when the time comes."
"I don't understand, why do we need Malfoy?" Harry asked confusedly.
"This child of good and evil shall stand between the angel of light and the angel of dark, and she will lead them unto victory against evil..." Dumbledore repeated softly, a faint smile spreading across his face. Comprehension dawned suddenly upon the two students as they realized the implications of what that meant.
"I'm the child of good and evil..." Lara said softly.
"I'm the angel of light..." Harry said in the same tone.
"And Mr. Malfoy is the angel of dark." Dumbledore said serenely. "You will need to leave at once. I have a port key already set up for you in Professor McGonagall's classroom; it is the hourglass sitting on her desk. Retrieve Mr. Malfoy from his lunch and head towards the classroom. Take nothing but your wands." The headmaster said. The pair nodded as they divulged the instructions, their mutual fear at the task they were about to face hidden by masks of determination.
They were just about to turn around and head towards the hall when Dumbeldore stopped them.
"Good luck." He said simply. "I am sorry to bear you this burden."
The next morning, the pair woke up with the sun. Neither of them had gotten much sleep, due not only to the excitement before Christmas but the odd moment they had experienced the night before. Lara got dressed quickly and headed to the common room, where there was a small Christmas tree they had set up a few weeks earlier. She ducked under the tree and dragged out all the presents.
"Some of those are mine you know." Harry said from his position above her, arms folded.
"I know." Lara said unconvincingly. "I was just sorting through them."
"Sure you were." Lara pulled a face at him before selecting the presents in the pile that were hers. She got a beautiful necklace from Sirius, a bottle of healing potion from Hermione and a Quidditch scarf for the Irish team, who Lara supported wholeheartedly. She got several other presents from students in the year, and a collectors edition of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans from Dumbledore.
Harry frowned slightly at this present, thinking that Dumbledore was playing favorites.
"What's the look for Potter?"
"Teachers aren't suppose to favour students." Harry said childishly. Lara rolled her eyes at the Gryffindor.
"Honestly Potter, Dumbledore's more than my teacher. He's been my grandfather for years, looking after me." Harry didn't reply, but instead retaliated with a suspicious glance. "You're so jealous Potter, get over yourself."
"I AM NOT JEALOUS!" Harry roared. Their intimate moment from last night was forgotten as the two began to throw insults at each other. Lara was about to throw her first punch when her body suddenly froze. Lara cursed as she sprang out of the curse.
"What the hell?" Harry asked. It had look very weird to see her aiming a punch and then stopping in mid air.
"Dumbledore's anti-hostility spell, freezes you." Of all the reaction's Lara expected Harry to have, she did not expect him to laugh. "What on earth is wrong with you Potter?" She asked impatienly.
"You can't touch me! I can call you a selfish, stuck up, flat chested bitch and you can't do a thing to stop me!" He said gleefully. Lara opened her mouth in horror at his insults.
"Why you retarded bastard!" Lara spat, her fists curling into balls of rage. It took a lot of stregnth of will for her not to hit him, despite the uselessness of it.
"That's the best you can do Black?" Potter said mockingly, picking up his pile of presents and heading to his rooms, an evil grin still plastered on his face. Lara narrowed her eyes at him before picking up her presents and stomping off to her room.
The rest of the holidays were a very rocky period for the pair. Their brief episode of near-friendship was abandoned for all out hostility, and once they were out of the room the fights could continue unhindered. By the end of the week, Harry was covered in bruises from head to toe, Madam Pomfrey refusing to heal them any more. Lara had managed to heal her own with her advanced magic, but Harry could not as yet heal injuries.
After one particularly nasty fight, Dumbledore called them into his office again.
"For a brief period of time there, I thought my idea to have worked. This past week has proven otherwise." Both Lara and Harry smiled inwardly at this. Perhaps Dumbledore would let them move back to the common room. "I will, however, not remove you from your current lodgings." The inward smiles quickly faded.
"So what are you going to do." Lara asked impatiently.
"You are not allowed to attend meals in the hall. They will now be served in your own quarters."
"That's unfair!" Harry cried.
"No, Mr. Potter, it is not. You refuse to make even the smallest attempt at cooperation, and I have been forced to resort to these measures. You have no one to blame but yourselves. You are dismissed." Dumbledore said, indicating that the conversation was over before the pair could retaliate. Lara stamped her foot in impatience before heading out the door, pushing Harry out of the way on her way out. Harry glanced pointedly at Dumbledore.
"See what I have to put up with?"
"Don't act like you don't deserve it Mr. Potter." The headmaster said simply.
***************
"That is so slack!" Harry roared on their final night before school started. The students had arrived that night, but Lara and Harry had not been able to see them because of their recent punishment.
"What is Potter?"
"How come you get to heal your bruises while I'm stuck limping around?"
"Because I'm smarter than you, and have enough ability to heal them myself."
"Heal me as well, it's only fair."
"No it's not."
"You inflicted this pain on me!"
"So? You inflicted this on me, but I don't see you healing me."
"That's because I can't!"
"Go have a cry about it Potter!" Harry stamped his foot impatiently.
"Bitch." He muttered on his way out, just loud enough for her to hear.
"Bastard." She muttered back.
"Come on." Harry whined from his position on the couch. Lara rolled her eyes before sitting down on the couch next to him.
"Fine, but I want you to realize the only reason I'm doing this is because Dumbledore will kill us if he sees us sporting any more injuries."
"Sure it is... You just can't admit that you care about me."
"Don't flatter yourself Potter." Lara snapped, as she gently touched the bruises around his lips. Harry closed his eyes as she began to work around the bruises around them. He felt rather than saw her lean closer, checking for any other injuries. He could feel her breath teasing his lips, and couldn't repress a shiver as her fingers lightly touched a cut lip, healing it instantly.
What's wrong with me? I don't like her! Harry thought. But she is attractive, with her long hair, and soft, tanned skin...
SHUT UP HARRY! His inner voice interrupted. Harry shook himself out of his state, opening his eyes.
It was a normal teenage boy reaction... he said to himself as Lara finished healing some of the bruises on his knuckles and got up from the couch, heading to her room.
Perfectly normal... He repeated, reassuring himself. It's not because I like her or anything...
***************
"Hey guys! How were your holidays?" Hermione asked excitedly, running up to Harry and Lara outside their transfiguration classroom. She gave the two of them a quick hug before letting them answer.
"Terrible." They said simultaneously.
"Why?" Once again, the pair pointed at each other simultaneously.
"Oh no, please don't tell me you guys started fighting again! You were improving when I last saw you!"
"Yeah well, Potter can't help being the a-hole he is." Lara muttered.
"Much like you can't help being a bitch." Harry retaliated.
"You say that like it's a bad thing!" Lara said, feigning mock hurt. Harry narrowed his eyes at her but didn't dwell on it as at that moment Draco walked up to the group.
"Hey how is everyone?" Draco said, looking from Hermione to Lara and completely ignoring his nemesis between them.
"Disgusting, but I spent it with him. What else can you expect?" Lara drawled.
"Mine were good, I just spent it with the family you know?" Hermione said, smiling. Draco nodded before turning his attention to his girlfriend.
"Before we go into class, could I have a word with you, alone?" He said, emphasizing the final word. Lara nodded.
"Yeah sure, I need to talk to you too actually." She said thinking now was as good a time as any other to break up with him. But despite her inner voice convincing her it was going to be alright, she couldn't help but feel her heart crumble slightly at the thought of what she was about to do.
"Okay, I don't know quite how to put this." Draco started slowly, avoiding Lara's eyes. It was only when a nervous look flashed across his eyes did she finally realize what was going on.
"It's okay Draco, I know you're here to break up with me." Lara said softly. The blonde haired Slytherin almost did a double take at her words.
"W...what? How did you...how?" He said confusedly.
"Well I've noticed for quite sometime that you... er... like someone else."
"Oh... I'm sorry... I..." Lara sighed at Draco's stuttering. This was a nasty way to end a relationship.
"Draco, listen to me. I wanted to tell you something too, remember? I was going to break up with you too, because I realized that I didn't like you, at least not in that way." The boy breathed an obvious sigh of relief at her words.
"Good." He said simply, before Lara started laughing. "What? It's not funny!"
"I wish I had a camera. I think that's the only time in the history of the world anyone has ever seen a Malfoy nervous."
"Funny Lara." He said, not being able to suppress a small smile.
"This won't change our friendship will it?"
"I hope not. You're the only person I can insult who puts up a good fight back, even if you do loose in the end..." Draco said immodestly.
"Shut up." Lara said playfully. "Now, about this Ginny thing..."
***************
"I hope you all had a good holiday, because now we are on to some real work." Mc Gonagall said as soon as the students were seated in class for their first lesson of the term. The class groaned at her opening announcement before rustling to find paper to take some notes.
"You broke up with the wanker didn't you?" Harry whispered to Lara, who was sitting next to him in the transfiguration classroom.
"Yes, for your information Potter, I did. But he isn't a wanker."
"Course he is. All guys wank." Harry said simply.
"I did not need to know that Potter." Lara said, wincing slightly at the thought. Harry grinned at this.
"Aw...is poor Blacky Wacky too pure and innocent for all this naughty talk?" He said in a mock baby voice. Lara narrowed her eyes in anger.
"I may be a virgin," Harry winced at this information, "But I am certainly not innocent."
"Over share Black." The Gryffindor said.
"Now who is innocent?"
"You say that like it's a bad thing." Harry said, in much the same tone as Lara had used not long before. The two couldn't help but grin at this comment.
"POTTER AND BLACK! IF YOU INSIST ON TALKING IN MY CLASS THEN I WILL GIVE YOU MORE TIME TO CHAT IN DETENTION!" McGonagall yelled halfway through her explanation of the lessons work. The pair jumped at her booming voice and fell silent immediately, neither willing to spend any more time with each other than they already had to.
"I can't believe you guys have started fighting again." Ron moaned at lunch that day. Lara and Harry had just gotten into another verbal war, which would have escalated into something more had Hermione not stepped in.
"I can't believe I ever tried to be friends with that anus!" Lara snapped.
"The feeling is mutual Black!" Harry spat. They would probably have continued their fight had Draco not sat himself down beside Ginny on the other side of the table. Harry narrowed his eyes at his nemesis.
"What do you think you're doing here Malfoy?" Harry said dangerously.
"I'm sitting with my friends Potter, do you know what they are?"
"I have more than you Malfoy, so I should."
"Open your eyes Potter. Your friends only hang around you for the fame."
"Better than for money." Potter retaliated.
"That tongue of yours is getting so sharp Potter, that it'll slice your jaw in half one day." Lara said dryly, getting up from the lunch table and heading towards her room. Harry checked his watch quickly before following her footsteps, although purposely walking several meters behind her.
*****************************************************
Lara entered the common room and flopped down on the couch, watching Harry as he closed the door behind her and seated himself on an opposite couch.
"Why don't you like Malfoy?"
"He insults me. Why should I?"
"He doesn't mean it?"
"Well why does he do it?"
"Because his father has a spell on him Potter. He has to keep up the Dark Lord's work here at school, and if Lucius feels any rebellion he puts the Cruciatus Curse on him." Lara said, finally explaining to Harry the true meaning behind Draco's retaliations. Harry stared at Lara, his face softening.
"Oh."
"Yes, oh!"
"Well he's stopped insulting Hermione."
"'Cos he can fight the curse."
"But not enough to stop insulting me."
"Oh no, he does that because you're an annoying git and you deserve it."
"Exactly my point, why should I like him?"
"Well if you tried to be nice to him, maybe he'd return the favor."
"I will when he does." Harry said immaturely. Lara shook her head, muttering something that sounded a lot like 'boys!'
"Are you upset?"
"About what?"
"Malfoy and Ginny." Lara gave Harry a weird look, surprised by this sudden turn into civilized conversation.
"No, I'm not. They both need to find someone, especially, Ginny, that loves them whole heartedly."
"And that isn't what you want?"
"Well I want love, but not the sweet, tender sort of love their looking for. I want something passionate, deep, something that sends me weak at the knees."
"This coming from a girl who doesn't believe in deep love."
"I might not believe in it, but I can still dream."
"Quit dreaming, and start believing. It may come true?"
"Do you believe?"
"Of course." Was the simply reply, as Harry grabbed Quidditch Through the Ages from the floor beside his couch and commenced reading it. Meanwhile, Lara pondered over the conversation she had just shared with Harry. His final answer had surprised her. He had said it so determinedly, like he believed in it with all he was.
He's so passionate about some things, exactly what I want in a guy. You can see it in his eyes, those emerald pools... hang on? What am I thinking? This is Potter! I don't like him, and never will! He's annoying and arrogant and.....
But then... why was her heart beating so much faster?
At that moment, an owl swooped in through the window and dropped two letters in the center table. Lara walked forward and picked up the one addressed to her, motioning to Harry, that the other one was for him. Slowly, the brown haired girl opened her letter and read.
Hey Sweetheart Not sure if Dumbledore's told you yet, but Voldemort's attacked. He hit the ministry yesterday and he's got it under his control and using it as his base. Hogwarts is the only place left that's remotely safe. DON'T LEAVE DUMBLEDORE'S SIGHT FOR ONE SECOND! I do not want you going after this lunatic, he's powerful. Same applies for Harry. Dad PS: Wormtail was captured during the assault by Aurors. He testified, I'm free. When we get out of this war, you, me and Harry are going to buy a flat in London. What do you say?
"CRAP!" Lara cried out loudly, slamming the letter down on the table and kicking the sofa as hard as she could in frustration.
"DAMN IT!" Harry said in much the same tone as Lara had. He had obviously just finished reading his letter, which contained much of the same content as hers had.
"I'm going to Dumbledore, I refuse to sit around and."
"I'm going with you." Harry said abruptly, following the girl out of the door. "What if he says to stay put?" He asked her as they hurried out of their room and down the corridor.
"I don't know about you, but I'm escaping and going after the lunatic."
"You're not going alone." Harry said determinedly. Lara stopped walking and turned to face the brown haired boy, who was looking at her with a face set with determination.
"Thank you. But it's going to be dangerous..."
"I know." Harry interrupted. Lara simply nodded at this. He had been through a lot, she knew he was telling the truth when he said he understood exactly what he was getting himself into.
The two continued to hurry along the corridors, their hatred for one another temporarily forgotten in the light of a bigger adversary. They had just turned right into another wide corridor when they spotted Dumbledore coming the opposite way.
"Professor!" Lara yelled at the approaching Headmaster. He nodded his head slightly, acknowledging their presence.
"I suspect Mr. Black has already written to you." The wizened old man said solemnly as soon as he was closer.
"Yes, he told us everything. Voldemort's attacked the ministry, and it's now under his control." Lara said.
"Did he mention anything about his new allies?" The old man asked pointedly. The pair shook their heads.
"He's gathered up his army again. Vampires, werewolves, Death Eaters, giants, banshees, and demons." Lara paled slightly at the mention of the last abomination.
"Again?"
"Yes my dear. He had offered them a very good deal, as the Lord of Hell himself has descend into our midst to fight in his battle."
"Karadryn." Lara said softly. Dumbledore nodded.
"You realize we cannot just stay here and twiddle our thumbs when the world outside is collapsing." Harry said, crossing his arms in determination.
"I understand your need to help Harry, but this is no ordinary foe."
"We are no ordinary wizards." Lara said, looking up at her headmaster and staring him directly in the eye.
"Perhaps not, but your power does not match his when coupled with the demon's dark magic."
"I defeated them last time." Lara said defiantly.
"The demon's alone, yes. But my belief is that they've combined power with Voldemort. The sort of power we are talking about, if that is the case, is beyond anything you've ever encountered."
"I'm going to the Ministry headquarters, whether you like it or not." Lara said simply.
"I know you are. But you are not going alone."
"Harry is coming too, yes." The green eyed boy nodded in agreement at this.
"And so is Mr. Malfoy."
"No. That is one life I would not risk for the world. His death would haunt me for the rest of my life, I cannot bear that burden Dumbledore." Lara said softly.
"You will need him, when the time comes."
"I don't understand, why do we need Malfoy?" Harry asked confusedly.
"This child of good and evil shall stand between the angel of light and the angel of dark, and she will lead them unto victory against evil..." Dumbledore repeated softly, a faint smile spreading across his face. Comprehension dawned suddenly upon the two students as they realized the implications of what that meant.
"I'm the child of good and evil..." Lara said softly.
"I'm the angel of light..." Harry said in the same tone.
"And Mr. Malfoy is the angel of dark." Dumbledore said serenely. "You will need to leave at once. I have a port key already set up for you in Professor McGonagall's classroom; it is the hourglass sitting on her desk. Retrieve Mr. Malfoy from his lunch and head towards the classroom. Take nothing but your wands." The headmaster said. The pair nodded as they divulged the instructions, their mutual fear at the task they were about to face hidden by masks of determination.
They were just about to turn around and head towards the hall when Dumbeldore stopped them.
"Good luck." He said simply. "I am sorry to bear you this burden."