Birthday Surprises Chapter 65
Usual disclaimer: Not mine, don't sue. Please. Wish it were mine though. Ah, if only… Lolly, xxx.
"I'm sorry, but I'm not ready to tell you. I will tell you this though – you'd be surprised how much people can learn without attracting anyone's notice when they need to." Harry smiled briefly before getting up and leaving without another word, leaving behind a very stunned and slightly fearful headmaster.
***
The end of the NEWT's came as a relief to every seventh year at Hogwarts – everyone except Harry Potter, that was. Harry knew that every day that passed brought him closer to the eventual battle that would take place between him and Voldemort, one of the most feared Dark Wizard of all time. He also knew that either him or Voldemort wouldn't survive this last battle. So he wasn't particularly pleased that the summer holidays were approaching at a great speed, and even less pleased that he was almost continually bothered by his scar.
***
Harry sat on his bed, watching Ginny playing with the triplets. She was grinning as they burbled at her, little grins lighting their faces. He turned away to look out of the window as his scar seared with pain, and he fought to keep the grimace of pain from his face. He seemed to succeed, and closed his eyes as Voldemort tried to violate his mind. He felt the other wizard rifling through his memories, and slowly slipped into the dark abyss that was Voldemort's mind. The other wizard, too foolish to presume that his own weapon may be used against him, left his mind open to Harry. In Voldemort's mind, Harry shuddered forcefully, feeling Voldemort's vicious pleasure when he killed yet another innocent. Anger pulsed through Harry like a poison, and Harry knew that he had just surprised Voldemort by seemingly getting angry over something and nothing. Harry received many thoughts that rushed through Voldemort's mind, including several about his sanity. As he pulled himself from the grungy depths of the evil mind, he allowed himself one thought that Voldemort would soon know – by the time all of this was over, Voldemort would wish that Harry was insane.
***
That night seemed never ending to Harry, as he lay in his bed, wide-awake. He ran through everything he had learned that day – he had two days. Voldemort would attack Hogsmeade in just two days. Soon, it would be all over. He eventually gave up on any hope of sleep, and cast a spell to give his mind and body the rest it would need. He sat down between the window and the cradles of the triplets, who were sleeping peacefully. The crescent moon hung low in the sky, tinged at the edges with red. "Blood on the moon." He murmured aloud. "Yep, it's happening all right." The moon lit the grounds of the school with an eerie, pale light that made everything seem to glow. Nothing moved out in the grounds, though the silence was broken by the occasional hoot of an owl, or the rustling of the trees in the slight warm breeze. Harry opened the window wide and sat on the ledge, breathing deeply. He never noticed Ginny standing at the door of his room, having crept up silently. She knew that she was lucky to be trusted by Harry – if he hadn't trusted her, there would be no way that she could creep up on him, no matter how silent she had been. She watched as he stared out into the night, his face devoid of any emotion or expression. After a while she crept out again, closing the door behind her. Harry sat on the windowsill oblivious, his mind working overtime.
***
When he climbed back into his room, Harry cast a silencing spell around the sleeping children, not wanting to disturb them as he trained. He shrank every bit of furniture in the room and created a large and empty space. He trained himself longer and harder than he had done before, still at it as the sun rose behind him. As he trained with his wand and his athame, he felt an immense sense of peace. This came naturally to him – as if he was born to be a warrior. Then he reminded himself that he was. At least he was if the prophecy was to be believed, which he was inclined to think that it was. He had just stopped training when Ron and Hermione walked in, taking in his rather ruffled appearance and the empty room. "What have you been doing?" Hermione asked, looking shocked.
"Training." Harry replied simply. "Now, if you don't mind, I need to shower."
"Is that a semi-polite way of saying 'get out'?" Hermione asked.
"Not at all. Stay, by all means, but I'm off." Harry, true to his word, disappeared into the adjoining bathroom, leaving Ron and Hermione rather shocked.
"What do you reckon he means by 'training'?" Ron asked, somewhat nervously.
"No idea." Hermione confessed. "But it probably has something to do with Voldemort."
"Probably." Ron echoed, looking at his nephews and niece, who were all, miraculously, still fast asleep.
***
Two days later, at breakfast, the headmaster stood up and looked at the students sitting at their tables, having breakfast and eating happily. The chatter died down as people watched him with interest. "I am afraid that this morning something very grave has happened." Professor Dumbledore said seriously, watching as Ron and Hermione shared a fearful look with Ginny. "I regret to have to inform you that Voldemort and his forces have attacked Hogsmeade."
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OOOHHH! Not good. Please don't shout at me for the cliffie – is it my fault that I like them? I'll update as soon as I can, I swear. Oh, and Gnomsie, sweetie, Harry/Ginny is SO GOING TO HAPPEN!!!! By the way, I've lost count of the votes, but I know that I am WAY ahead of you. Tee Hee.
Bye Bye – until next time…
