After much ado....Here is the second installment to my wonderful tale!
*
Chapter Two
*
*
Harry ran through the corridor, trying to get back to the common room.
He was three minutes past curfew, and although this was a minor offense, Filch would still probably wring his neck.
He dashed around the last corner and was facing the Fat Lady. After giving her the password and half-listening to her rantings about being out of bed at this hour, Harry slipped into the common room.
"Hiya, Harry!"
He nearly tripped over Dennis Creevey in his attempt to enter Gryffindor Tower.
"Erm, sorry there, Dennis."
"No problem, Harry! None at all!"
Harry shook himself and looked for his two best friends.
He spotted Ron and Hermione sitting at a small table on the far side of the room. Harry made his way over to them, passing through many groups of younger students.
"Hey guys," he said finally.
Ron looked up from his Quidditch magazine to say, "Hullo, Harry."
All he heard from Hermione was a small, "Hi."
Hermione Granger was buried in a large, very old, book about the effects of the Swelling Solution. Her hair was loosely tied behind her with a bright ribbon, and her eyes had large, black circles under them.
"Well, I can see you're busy."
"Hm, you're perceptive."
"Now, Hermione," said Ron, "Is that they way you greet our friend?"
But he got no answer to that. She had already resumed reading.
Harry pulled up a chair and took a seat. He grabbed a Charms textbook out of his shoulder bag and decided to try and finish his essay.
"Harry, mate, how goes it?"
His head turned slowly to see the boy standing behind him.
It was Jean Henri. Jean was a small, blond boy who was incredibly rich. He had a very prominent nose and sturdy build, for someone who was so short. Harry, as Quidditch captain, had chosen him to play chaser that year, and he was pretty good.
"Oh, er, hey."
"Listen, I was just wondering when next practice is."
Ron looked up quizzically. Practice had set days and never changed.
"Monday night, like always," said Harry slowly.
"Oh, right, well, see you."
Jean Henri walked clumsily away.
Ron leaned in towards Harry.
"What was that about?" he asked.
"No idea."
"Hm,...."
"Doesn't matter," said Harry, turning back to his work.
Hermione sighed loudly and Ron said, "Well, is there something you know that we don't?"
She glared at the two of them for interrupting her work, and she said plainly, "Well, it's kind of obvious. He just wanted an excuse to talk to Harry."
"And why would he want that?" asked Ron.
Hermione snapped her book shut. She was definitely not in a good mood.
"Oh, I don't know, let's see here. He's Quidditch Captain, Head Boy, Dumbledore's favorite, and oh yeah, HE'S HARRY POTTER!"
All students in the vicinity were trying to look occupied but listening in at the same time.
"And what does that mean, exactly?" said Ron dangerously.
"You know exactly what the means, Ronald Weasley."
"No, I'm not sure I do."
"HE'S FREAKING FAMOUS! EVERYONE WANTS TO TALK TO HIM! WE'VE BEEN BEST FRIENDS WITH HIM FOR NEARLY SEVEN YEARS, YOU CAN'T TELL ME THAT YOU'RE JUST NOTICING NOW...."
"WELL, EXCUSE ME, BUT I DIDN'T--"
"OF COURSE YOU DIDN'T! YOU NEVER DO!"
With that, Hermione grabbed her schoolwork and headed up to her dorm.
Recently, Ron and Hermione had been constantly fighting. Of course, they had always been getting in arguments, ever since they met in fact, but these past few months it seemed as if the tension was at an all-time high.
"Hey, man, what was that about--"
"Don't wanna talk about it," Ron said gloomily, before picking up his belongings as well.
"Where are you going--" Harry started.
But he didn't get an answer.
Ron nearly ran up the boys' stairs, and Harry could hear their door slam shut. So could about half the common room.
Harry turned back to his homework, trying to make some headway.
*
It was past midnight when he finished his first paper, and Harry made a decision. He packed up his books and followed the path Ron had taken earlier up to his room.
Harry opened the door slowly, as to not wake up his fellow seventh year Gryffindors. Sure, he could have slept in his private Heads' quarters, but Harry never really liked those. He much preferred his four-poster bed that was like a home to him.
The door made a sickeningly loud squeak, but luckily did not wake his friends. Harry walked over to his bed and fell on top of the covers, completely exhausted.
*
beep—beep—beep
Harry scratched his head.
beep—beep—beep
His right arm flew over to hit the clock beside him. He rolled his head and stretched out his arms. Harry then proceeded to throw off the covers and grab a towel.
Showering in the morning was a practice Harry was used to from living with the Dursleys. Of course, you would shower as early as possible if it meant avoiding the unpleasantness of it after Dudley or Vernon had taken one.
Of course, Harry never knew how they even fit in the shower to begin with.
'Oh, there's a nice image,' thought Harry, squinting his eyes and shaking his head.
He opened the shower door and reached in to turn the pentagonal dial on the wall to "CW" for Comfortably Warm. Harry stripped off his pajamas and threw them in a hamper. He then stepped into the warm water and started to wash his hair.
After about ten minutes, Harry was done cleaning himself and put on his school robes. He saw that everyone but Ron was awake, so he threw back the red-haired boy's curtains and yelled, "HEY RON, WAKE UP!"
But Ron wouldn't stir. Harry tried once again to rouse him, and only succeeded after punching his friend in the arm.
"HARRY! WATCH IT!"
"Glad to see you decided to wake up."
Ron only growled and sat up, blinking profusely.
*
After about five more minutes, Harry and Ron started down to breakfast.
They arrived after Hermione, who was already sitting and waiting for them. She had an expectant look on her face, and her hands rested in her lap.
"Good morning, Harry," she said.
"Er, morning 'Mione."
Hermione purposely did not greet Ron, who sat down quickly and started to eat. Yes, something was up between those two.
Harry sat across from her and pulled a platter of sausages towards him. He picked out two of them and placed them on his plate.
The three of them started up a conversation, only to be interrupted by Dumbledore's morning announcement.
"Silence, please," he began.
The entire hall grew quiet as they looked up to their headmaster.
"I have only a few notices for you today, and I will try to finish with them quickly, so you can all get back to your normal morning-time activities."
Harry glanced at Ron and Hermione, who were staring with rapt attention at the old man.
"Yes, well, third years should note that they are in greenhouse four this week, and Professor Sprout will explain why when you arrive there. First years, please be sure to be back at your dormitories before curfew, and finally, all sixth and seventh years will be taking their astronomy tests tomorrow night. Please be here," he motioned to the dining hall, "at eight o'clock. I think that's all,...."
After a few moments of silence, everyone went back to eating.
*
That day passed in a blur of note taking and boredom. Charms was dedicated to reading their texts and Professor Mcgonagall gave a long lecture during Transfiguration.
Lunch was eagerly anticipated, and all the seventh years were glad when it finally arrived.
Harry and Ron walked into the room and sat at the long table. Harry didn't touch the food, however. He was instead watching Ron, who was watching someone else.
His questions were put to rest when Harry followed Ron's gaze and saw who his friend was looking at.
It was Hermione.
"Hey, 'Mione."
"Hello, Harry. Ron."
Harry tried his best to stifle a laugh as he watched Ron's cheeks turn the lightest shade of pink.
"Hi, Hermione," Ron mumbled, playing with his food.
She sat down briskly and snatched an apple from Ron's plate, eagerly taking a bite. "That was such an interesting class, don't you think? I only hope I got enough notes,...."
"You can shut up now, Hermione."
She and Harry turned to look at the youngest Weasely boy, and gave him questioning glances.
Ron quickly busied himself with pouring pumpkin juice. But that didn't stop Harry from catching the sideways glances he was directing at the only girl present.
*
History of Magic was a double period of that day, giving most students an extra few hours to nap. They heard nothing of ogre treaties or pixie bans, and paid no mind to Binns' rambling about animal experimentation laws.
But Harry did his best to stay awake, as he was still confused about something.
He scribbled a few sentences on a scrap of spare parchment and proceeded to crumple it up into a ball. Harry then raised his wand and muttered a small charm.
The paper started to float in the air, heading slowly for Ron's desk. The time it spent in the air was torturous, because Harry didn't know if Binns would catch him. Although this seemed unlikely, he didn't care.
Finally, Ron felt the small note hit the back of his neck. His arm flashed up to grab it, and he flattened it out on his desk. His eyes widened as he read what his friend had written.
*Ron-
What's up between you and Hermione? You can tell me.*
*
Ron's head jerked up as he finished, and he quickly grabbed his quill to write a response.
It was too bad that he didn't know the same spell Harry did, though. Ron simply threw the parchment aimlessly over his shoulder.
"Accio Paper," Harry whispered, thinking fast. The note halted halfway through it's flight, and headed straight towards Harry.
He held it under the desk and started to read the one word Ron had written.
*
*Nothing.*
*
Harry pursed his lips and quickly sent one back that said,
*
*Bullshit. Just tell me.*
*
His response was somewhat longer, but still didn't reveal anything.
*
*Promise not to laugh?*
*
Harry closed his eyes and jotted down one word.
*
*Yes.*
*
Ron looked uncomfortable as he read, this, but Harry didn't know why. He watched Ron slowly print out a few phrases and throw it back to him.
*
*Okay, but don't let her know I told you.*
*
Harry glared at Ron, and he seemed to get the message. He ripped off a piece of paper and wrote another note.
*
*I think I fancy her.*
*
Harry rolled his eyes and wrote,
*
*It's kind of obvious. What happened?*
*
Ron was getting more and more antsy, and kept shifting in his seat.
*
*I kissed her. On Sunday night.*
*
Harry blinked and reread these last few words.
*
*Did she kiss you back?*
*
*Yes*
*
Harry wanted to find out more, but the bell rang, signaling the end of class.
He jumped up to ask Ron about his encounter, but didn't get the chance, seeing as Hermione was standing there as well.
*
The rest of the day passed without anything abnormal happening. Dinner was spent talking with Ron, Hermione, and Ginny about N.E.W.T.s, which Ginny wouldn't even have to take for another year.
Harry thought the next best time to talk to Ron would be at night, in their dorm. But he was mistaken.
Ron went up to bed around ten, closely followed by Harry. When they arrived in their room, he tried to pry some more information from his best friend.
"When did this happen?" Harry asked.
"What?" replied Ron, trying to act oblivious.
"You know what I mean."
"No, I don't."
Harry was just about to hit Ron upside the head with a nearby Potions textbook, but he was spared the trouble by Neville, Seamus, and Dean entering the room.
Ron gave him a deadly look as if to say, 'Not now.'
Harry nodded and went to get ready for bed.
*
_
*
_
*He was flying on his Firebolt, he was about to catch the snitch, he had the attention of half the girls in his school, he felt his fingers wrap around the tiny golden ball,....*
"Harry?"
*They were cheering his name....*
"Harry!"
*Suddenly, his broomstick started to swerve and move in unpredictable directions. He was barely holding on to it. He fell off and started to fall....*
"OI! HARRY!!"
He felt a pair of cold hands grasp his face and start to shake him. Harry's arms flew up to protect himself.
"BLOODY HELL, HARRY! YOU HIT ME RIGHT IN THE NOSE!"
He felt around for his glasses, and, when he finally put them on, surveyed the scene.
Ron was standing, bent over, on the floor next to him. Harry was still lying in bed, and the clock read nearly ten.
"Ron?" he asked, "Are you okay?"
His best friend of almost seven years looked up at him and gave him a grim smile.
"I'll be fine. Tried to wake you up....Didn't think you'd try and attack me..."
Harry scoffed.
"Sorry, mate."
Ron turned back to grab his cloak, and Harry noticed that he was fully dressed, but not in his school uniform.
"Where're you going?"
"Breakfast, you dolt."
Harry remembered that it was Saturday morning, and hurried to get dressed as well.
*
Breakfast was over by the time they arrived. Harry and Ron barely managed to snag two muffins from a deserted Gryffindor table before the entire spread was cleared.
The boys then went to look for Hermione, who was in the Library.
"Oh, look, Harry! It's Hermione! Never knew we'd find her here,...." Ron said as he spotted their other friend sitting in the corner of the library.
Harry puzzled over why Ron was acting so....well, hostile....towards Hermione. All of his comments were dripping with sarcasm and he seemed to be constantly picking a fight.
"Well, thank you Ron, but I was just planning on getting out of here."
"Now, why on earth would you want to spend time somewhere other than here?" Ron said, motioning to the dark and dusty rows of books, which gave off an oddly musty smell.
Hermione only shook her head and headed towards the door, leaving two confused boys in her wake.
They looked at each other and then yelled, "Wait up there, Hermione."
*
The three Gryffindors spent the afternoon outside, walking endless amounts of laps around the lake.
Ron looked up at the clear November sky, and said, "As much as I love exercise, this is getting pretty boring."
Hermione looked down at her watch, and said, "It's already past lunch, there won't be any food left."
They stood in silence for a few moments, thinking of what to do.
Harry suggested, "Let's go and visit Hagrid."
Ron and Hermione couldn't think of anything better to do, so the three of them walked towards the small cottage on the edge of the grounds.
Smoke was curling up from the chimney, and as they approached the wooden door, Fang's loud barks could be heard from inside.
The door burst open and the very tall man said, "Ah, 'ello there, 'Arry, Ron, 'Ermione. C'mon in."
The students stepped over the threshold and looked around. Over the years, Hagrid's home had changed very little. There was still the same dirty patchwork quilt covering the bed in the corner, the same square table in the middle of the room, and the same fireplace on the opposite wall.
Hagrid started to busy himself with making tea, saying, "So, what brings you down here?"
Hermione quickly took the teapot away from Hagrid and insisted on making the drinks herself. The three of them had sampled the groundskeeper's cooking, and it wasn't something they wanted to experience again.
All four of them sat around the table for the remainder of the afternoon, catching up on recent news. Before they knew it, it was time for dinner.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione trudged up the hill to the castle in the darkening cold.
Dinner was a lively affair. Everyone in the two oldest classes were overjoyed by the prospect of being allowed out of bed, hours past curfew. They didn't seem to notice that the reason was for an important test. Anyways, most of the students were planning on sneaking off after the exam, to, well,....
"This school has a severe problem with raging hormones," commented Hermione.
"Couldn't agree more," said Ron smoothly, smiling at her. She didn't take the bait, however. Hermione simply widened her eyes and turned back to her small novel.
Harry started to laugh quietly at his tall friend, who then took that opportunity to elbow him in the face.
"Shut it," he whispered.
But Harry didn't have time to respond, because Dumbledore once again stood up to make an announcement.
"As you can see," he said, the hall growing silent, "Supper is nearing an end. That means it is nearly three-quarters past seven o'clock in the evening. Would all of the older students please hurry to finish their meals and grab whatever supplies necessary from their dormitories. Other pupils should note that they must evacuate the Dining Hall in less than twenty minutes. Thank you."
Ron leapt out of his seat, closely followed by Harry and Hermione. They hurried up to Gryffindor Tower, and fetched their telescopes and star charts. When they got back to the Great Hall, they saw that the entire room had been reorganized. Instead of the four long tables that were used for eating, many different tables of all shapes and sizes were scattered about the room, accompanied by very cozy looking chairs.
"Awesome," laughed Ron, running for the nearest leather recliner. He jumped into it and made himself comfortable.
Hermione rolled her eyes and followed Harry over to the circular table, sitting on a worn, plaid armchair. Harry grabbed a plush, velvety one and sat between his two friends.
Hermione pulled out her charts and was studying them fervently, while Ron was carefully etching small notes onto the bottom of his shoe.
Harry decided not to do either, and lay back in his chair, observing the rest of the room.
Dean, Seamus, and Neville were sitting halfway across the room at a table with a bright tablecloth, and Draco Malfoy had found a sturdy wooden table and was accompanied by Crabbe and Goyle. Ginny Weasley sat on a footrest at a table with the rest of her sixth year friends, just to Harry's right. Lavender and Parvati shared a small, square table that looked as if it could have been pulled from a street-side café.
There was a loud whistling noise, and the students quieted.
"Thank you for your cooperation," their astronomy teacher said, "And I hope we can finish with this quickly. Seventh years will go first, followed by sixth years. Naturally, you will be tested in alphabetical order."
"Damn," Ron said, "I'm last!"
But Ginny leaned over to her brother from her table and said while smiling, "No, you're a seventh year. I'M last."
Ron shrugged and went back to writing on his foot.
Harry was getting incredibly bored, and went back to listening to the end of the teacher's speech.
"I would appreciate it if you would all please remain in the Dining Hall until everyone has finished testing? That way we can keep track of you, since it will be after curfew...."
"Tough luck, mate," Harry heard a burly sixth year Ravenclaw mutter to the teacher, while grabbing his girlfriend's hand.
He started to zone out, and presently found himself asleep. He dreamt of Quidditch and girls, as usual, and was only awoken once, when Hermione snapped her book shut to leave and be tested. Harry woke again when Ron hit him in the arm.
"Whassat?" Harry mumbled.
"That's you, mate. You're up."
Harry cleared his mind and stood up, following four other seventh years out of the room.
They walked in silence up to the Astronomy Tower, and Harry found himself wishing they had picked a more practical place for the students to wait. Somewhere much closer to the testing area.
The finally arrived at the tower, and Professor Sinistra met them there.
Harry was third in line to go out on the rooftop, and was starting to get a little nervous. When he was finally called, he nearly dropped his telescope.
"Hello, there Mr. Potter," came the greeting from Professor Sinistra.
"Hello, professor."
"Now if I could just ask you to locate Venus for me,...."
Harry spent the next ten minutes finding planets and constellations, occasionally giving the background on its name and origin.
"Well done, Mr. Potter."
Harry couldn't disagree more. Astronomy was his worst subject, after Potions. Divination was conveniently out of the picture, as he had dropped it after fifth year. Aurors did not need to know about fortune telling.
He left the tower and made his way back to the Dining Hall. Harry spotted Ron and Hermione instantly and walked over to them.
"Well?" asked Ron.
"Well what?" replied Harry.
"How'd it go?" Ron corrected.
"Bloody horrible. Pulled a Divination."
"Made it up?" Ron asked jokingly.
"You know it."
"You two are so,..." Hermione started.
"Clever?" supplied Ron.
"Brilliant?" suggested Harry.
"Handsome?" Ron laughed.
"Childish!" Hermione shot.
"Well, we knew that one already, 'Mione." Ron replied.
She only sighed and turned back to her work.
After about another half hour, Ron's name was called and he trudged up to the tower with the last of the seventh years.
Harry turned to Hermione and studied her. She was bent over what looked like an old book about strange symbols.
"What's this for?" Harry asked, grabbing the text.
"Ancient Runes," Hermione sighed, reaching back for the tome.
Harry saw that she wasn't in the mood to talk about it, so he decided to change the subject. After all, he didn't want to sit in silence, and there were still some things he had to figure out.
"So, you and Ron?"
Hermione froze and her mouth opened slightly. Her gaze slowly shifted from the pages before her to Harry's face.
"What are you talking about?" she tried to cover up.
"Don't play that with me. I'm not as thick as I seem."
She looked like a guilty criminal.
"Besides, it's not like its that hard to see,...."
Hermione set her book down and said sharply, "Well, you'd best keep quiet about it."
She then resumed her reading, but her eyes didn't move.
"He really rates you, you know."
Hermione once again looked up from the book in her hands, and before she could stop herself, said quietly, "Really?"
Harry barely had time to laugh before said Ron came waltzing back to the table, looking smug as ever.
"Do well?" asked Harry.
"No," Ron replied happily.
"Then why are you smiling?"
"I just saw Malfoy fall on his face."
Harry turned around to face the other side of the room, and sure enough, there was a very rumpled Malfoy lying on the floor.
"HA!" Harry exclaimed, drawing the attention of even more students.
But Draco seemed to sense the gaze of almost every person in the hall, and stood up.
"Ah," said Ron, "That makes up for my bad Astronomy grade. Say, how long 'till we can get outta here?"
Harry looked at his watch and saw that it was half past nine.
"Bout an hour and a half, seeing as we're halfway done."
They could see couples leaving the room frequently, most not planning on returning that night.
Harry knew that he should leave Ron and Hermione to figure things out, so he turned to talk to Ginny, who was sitting alone now that her two friends had gone to be tested. Unfortunately for her, their names started at the beginning of the alphabet.
Harry got up and took a seat next to Ginny in a large, purple chair.
"Hey," he said, breaking her concentration from her notes.
"Oh, Harry. Hey," she said, smiling, "Just trying to study, you know...."
"Maybe I can help?" Harry said, chancing a glance back at Ron and Hermione, who were now deep in conversation.
"And how is that?" Ginny asked curiously.
"I took sixth year astronomy already. I'll quiz you."
Ginny looked at him gratefully and tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear, but it came out almost immediately.
"That'd be great," she said, passing him her notes.
Ginny's friends never came back, mainly for two reasons. For one, they saw her sitting with Harry Potter, and, moreover, they both had boyfriends to sneak away with. Halfway through Harry questioning her on Jupiter's moons, Ron and Hermione 'discreetly' rose from their chairs and walked out of the room.
Ginny seemed to notice Harry's attention was on the two Gryffindors, and she said, "Well, good for them."
"Yeah, I know," he replied, and then continued to help her study. The number of students in the room significantly diminished as the time wore on. None of them seemed to care about Professor Sinistra's words at the beginning of the night.
Finally, Ginny's name was called, and she left with the last of the sixth years to be tested. Harry reclined in his chair, trying to get a bit of sleep. Ron and Hermione were still not back, and Dean and Seamus seemed to have left with Lavender and Parvati. There was no one here that Harry knew or could talk to comfortably, save for Neville, who was currently chatting with Luna Lovegood. Not wanting to interrupt, Harry remained in his seat until someone he knew entered.
But nothing of the sort happened. Loud, running footsteps echoed in the hallway, along with occasional screams, and Harry leapt out of his seat when he saw the last testing group come running in—without Ginny.
"Death Eaters!" one skinny blond girl cried, "Upstairs!"
But there were hardly any students left, so only about an eighth of the upper classmen population were alerted.
Professor Flitwick, the teacher who had been assigned to watch over the students in the hall, was quickly awoken and he squealed with terror when he heard the news.
Harry's head started to spin. Death Eaters? At Hogwarts? How could it be? Sure, there had been more of these kinds of attacks over the last two years, ever since Voldemort had been acknowledged as being back. But never at school.
Where was everyone? Where they safe? Harry quickly counted off in his head. Ron and Hermione were undoubtedly together, most likely in the common room. He doubted Hermione would want to be caught out of bounds. Ginny was—
"Where's Ginny?" Harry demanded of the frightened sixth years.
They trembled, but one of them finally spurted out, "Still....upstairs....was taking.....test...."
That was all Harry needed to hear. He threw open the doors to the Great Hall and rushed to the stairs. He barreled through the many corridors, cursing the long distance between the main entrance and the tallest tower. He nearly hit a suit of armor on his way, but didn't stop. Harry's face started to heat as he kept running, trying to think of anything but what he expected to find.
He took the last flight of stairs four at a time, his breath getting ragged. He felt his ankle twist, but didn't pay any attention to the throbbing pain in his foot.
Harry held out his hand to grab the wall as he rounded the last corner. He surveyed the area, which was suspiciously devoid of any type of Death Eater. The hall was exactly as he had seen it last, when he had taken his test.
But he had thought too fast. A tall, cloaked figure emerged from behind the opposite corner of the corridor, brandishing a wand.
The man started towards him, saying the beginnings of a deadly curse.
Harry whipped out his own wand and cast a jet of red light at the man, stunning him quickly.
The Death Eater fell over backwards, head lolling on the floor.
Harry then proceeded to jog to the other end of the hallway, and turned the corner.
He felt a cold, clammy hand grab him from behind and start to choke him.
He dug his wand into the dark figure's ribcage and managed to cough through the chokehold, "Incendio."
The man's cloak started on fire, and had to let go of Harry's neck to try and put out the flame.
He whipped around and yelled, "Incarceratus!"
Thick ropes burst out of the end of Harry's wand, which tied the Death Eater as he fell to the floor.
"Master!" the man cried, "Master!"
Harry thought quickly as he cast a silencing charm on the man, preventing anyone from hearing him.
He then turned to see four figures in the room at the end of the corridor.
He recognized two of them as people he knew, and the other two as Death Eaters.
Voldemort was holding Ginny Weasely in the air, by her arm. He was flanked by two of his followers.
"Well, Potter, how nice to see you again," Voldemort drawled.
"Sorry, I can't say the same for you," Harry retorted.
Voldemort let out a low laugh, followed by the two men in cloaks. Ginny's face showed pure terror. Her deep brown eyes were opened wide, tears starting to gather in the corners. Voldemort was really hurting her by holding her up like that. Harry was worried he might do permanent damage to her shoulder, and tried to stop him.
"Put her down," the boy said dangerously.
"Or what?" Voldemort said, "You'll kill us all? Sorry Potter."
Harry was shaking by this time. He didn't know if it was from anger, fear for Ginny, or just the pain in his ankle.
"Just put her down."
Voldemort laughed once again, and said casually, "No, I don't think I will. You see, Potter, I need her. I'm not sure what for yet, actually, but,--"
Voldemort needed Ginny? She seemed to have heard this as well, because she started to wriggle against his grasp and tried to kick him.
"Ah, silly girl," Voldemort droned, "Would you like a little taste of what pain really is?"
"No!" Harry shouted, but to no avail.
Voldemort yelled in a sinister voice, "CRUCIO!"
He dropped the small redhead on the floor. She gave out a piercing scream and started to shake. Harry's ears ached from just hearing the pain she was in, and he remembered what that felt like, having been put under the curse multiple times.
He ran forward, holding out his wand dangerously.
Before he could do anything, however, Voldemort lifted the spell.
Ginny continued to twitch, hunched over in the fetal position. Her small cries filled the room, and Harry wanted to get revenge.
"Wait just a minute, Potter," Voldmort purred.
Harry looked at him, ready to do something horrible.
"I don't doubt that you have the power to kill me, Harry. You undoubtedly hate me"
'Damn right,' Harry thought to himself, shaking with rage.
"But just hear me out," he said in a sickly sweet voice.
Harry glared at him, waiting.
But instead of continuing the conversation, Voldemort aimed his wand at Harry's chest and quickly yelled, "EXPELLIARMUS!"
The Head Boy went flying, but held on to his wand tightly. He wasn't about to give up his only weapon....
Harry felt the skin on his shoulder tear open as he hit the floor, skidding to a halt.
His outstretched hand still held his wand, but Voldemort was closing in.
In a matter of seconds, the old man had reached Harry. He lifted his foot carefully and placed in on Harry's wrist, steadily applying pressure. After a few moments, he could no longer hold onto his wand. Harry's only defense rolled away as he heard the bones in his wrist cracking,....
Voldemort took his foot off of Harry's hand and kicked away they boy's wand. He then picked him up by the collar of his shirt and brought him up to eyelevel.
"Here we are again, Harry Potter. Please tell me, how are you going to get out of this one?"
Harry only gave him a sad smile as his eyes darted away from Voldemort's face. The man did not know it, but a plan was formulating.
"What's so funny, boy?" he cried, shaking Harry furiously.
He only laughed as the two of them heard a weak, "Furnunculus."
Voldemort let Harry go as his hands flew immediately to his lower back, starting to pat the area that Ginny had aimed her spell at only moments before. Although none of them could see it, large and painful boils were starting to break out all over Lord Voldemort's backside.
Ginny threw Harry his wand, which she had picked up and used to hex Voldemort.
He immediately caught it and pointed it at the two Death Eaters. They were currently running towards them, but he yelled, "IMPEDIMENTA!" and they both slowed down considerably. He took aim and sent two stunning spells their way. They fell to the ground and lay there limply.
Harry grabbed Ginny's hand and tried to pull her out of the tower, but was stopped by a very angry Lord Voldemort.
"Crucio!" he boomed, doing his best to aim at the two students. The curse hit Harry in the back, but he continued to run through the pain.
'Have to get her out of here,' was all he thought.
Ginny was weak as well, but she grabbed Harry under the arm and they made their way around the nearby corner, and she grabbed his wand once again, shouting, "Finite Incantatem!"
Harry felt the pain lift, but his legs were still shaky, especially his injured ankle. He leaned against the wall and fell down into a sitting position as Voldemort appeared next to them.
"I knew you wouldn't get far," the evil man said, taking arrogant steps back and forth in front of them.
Harry only looked up at the man, thinking. Ginny was crouched next to him, once again trembling. Harry took his hand and placed it on her arm, trying to comfort and protect her at the same time.
"Oh, how sweet," Voldemort said sarcastically, "Potter's found himself a girlfriend. Well, I guess now would be a good time to tell you a little story. One about your dear, precious parents,...."
"Don't you dare talk about them," Harry said in a scary voice. Even Voldemort faltered when he heard the boy speak like that.
"You do remind me quite a bit of your father, Harry. Same hair, face, love for redheads...."
"I said, SHUT IT!"
Harry was standing in front of Ginny, wand raised.
Voldemort was clearly angry from being told to 'shut it.'
"Surely, Harry, aside from you, I have the most right to talk of them. I did, after all, kill those two fools,...."
Harry's face started to redden with pure malice.
"....so BOLD, so COURAGEOUS, so NOBLE,...."
Harry whispered in a stony voice, "Stop."
But Voldmort continued.
"....so KIND,....ergh, it makes me SICK!"
Harry had had enough. He leapt for the man who had brought about his parents' death, and attempted to murder him with his bare hands. He grabbed any part he could reach, hitting, pulling, biting, punching,....
Harry heard a large crack that could be identified as the breaking of the Dark Lord's nose.
But all too soon, Ginny pulled him off of Voldemort, trying to run out of there.
"HARRY! LET'S GO!"
"GET OFF ME, GINNY!" Harry yelled, running back to the man who was already starting to stand up.
But Ginny didn't let go, and showed amazing strength for someone so small. Harry finally saw things her way, once Voldemort started to look around for his wand.
The two students bolted out of the corridor and towards the steps. They heard Voldemort pick up one of his stunned Death Eater's wands and start hurling curses at them.
"AVADA KEDAVRA!" they heard as a beam of deadly green light shot past them and hit a nearby vase.
They bounded over the previously stunned men, their minds on one goal: the stairs.
Voldemort was keeping up with them. He was in surprisingly good shape for a man who was so old.
Harry grabbed his wand and aimed it over his shoulder.
"STUPEFY!" he yelled as red light sprang from his wand, barely missing their pursuer.
Harry attempted to curse Lord Voldemort many consecutive times over the back of his shoulder. Finally, the blue light from his Knee-Reversing Hex made contact with the man, giving them extra time to run while he stopped to figure out the counter curse.
They were one corridor from the Grand Staircase, and couldn't stop running. Not now, at least. There was bound to be help waiting for them there.
Finally, the Grand Staircase was in view. Harry's ankle felt as if it was being pounded by a hammer of significant size, and both of them were close to fainting.
By the time they were halfway down, Voldmort had reached the top.
"AVADA KEDAVRA!" he shot, as Harry grabbed Ginny and pulled her out of the way. The staircase was much too large. It gave them no protection from incoming spells. Harry thought quickly and set Ginny on the railing, climbing up after her. They then swung around to the opposite side and jumped the fifteen feet to the stone floor.
The landing would have been painful anyways, but Harry landed directly on his injured foot, and he also served as the pad for Ginny's fall.
She rolled off of him and croaked, "Are you okay?"
He didn't answer, but instead used her support to help him stand. They did their best to run behind the large engraving of some mythical creature at the end of the stairs, carved right into the railing.
"AVADA KEDAVRA!" Voldemort screamed, blasting off half of their cover.
Harry spun around and used Ginny's shoulder to help him stand, yelling, "LOCOMOTOR MORTIS!"
Voldemort's legs automatically stuck together, which resulted in him falling and tripping down the remainder of the stairs.
When the Dark Lord finally came to a stop in front of Harry, he simply stared up at him.
But just then, the doors to the Dining Hall burst open as a parade of teachers stormed out, including Dumbledore himself.
Taking advantage of Harry's lack of attention, Voldemort quietly muttered the counter curse and sprang up. Harry whipped around to see the tall man standing behind him, starting to run up from the direction he came.
Harry stood there, watching Voldemort sprint up the Grand Staircase. The professors started after him, leaving Harry and Ginny at the foot.
The two students watched silently as the teachers chased Voldemort into the Transfiguration wing, all shouting curses, hexes, and spells at every opportunity.
Suddenly, the pain in Harry's ankle seemed to multiply, and his vision was clouded. He slumped down next to Ginny, who seemed to be experiencing the same effect.
They sat together, slowly drifting out of conciousness.
*
*
"Harry?"
"HARRY?"
"HARRY!!"
His eyes started to flutter as he awoke. There was a bright light shining in his eyes, and he was lying in the unmistakable white linens that belonged to the Hospital Wing.
Harry quickly sat up and grabbed his glasses. He looked around the room, trying to get his bearings.
"Why am I in the infirmary?" he asked to the two people sitting next to him, who he recognized as Ron and Hermione.
They seemed relieved that he was talking, and Ron laughed.
"Because you just took on You-Know-Who," he said dumbly, "and fainted, as usual..."
Memories of that night came flooding back to Harry in tiny snippets. Astronomy Tower,...Stairs,....Ginny,....
"Where's Ginny?" he asked quickly.
Hermione smiled and patted his hand gently. She then leaned over to the side, revealing another hospital bed, much like Harry's, behind her. Sitting straight up, reading a magazine, was Ginny Weasley. There was a hint of a bruise above her left eyebrow, but other than that she looked perfectly well.
"Glad to see you're okay, Harry," she said brightly.
He only smiled at her, and then his attention came back to his fellow seventh years.
"What happened?" Harry asked, fingers massaging his temples.
"I think that I would like to field that question, if I may?"
All four students looked over to the doors to the Hospital Wing, from which their headmaster had just entered.
He walked briskly over to the two beds, and said in a nice but firm voice, "Ms. Granger, Mr. Weasley, I think I should probably speak with these two alone."
Ron was about to protest when Dumbledore cut him off.
"I am perfectly sure that they will relay the information to you, but for now, if you could please lend us some privacy?"
Hermione gathered her books in her bag and grabbed Ron by the arm, pulling him out of the room.
Ron gave Harry a face that clearly read, "You-had-better-tell-me-what-he- says-or-else."
Harry gave his friend a small nod and turned back to Dumbledore.
When Hermione and Ron had closed the door, the old man sat at the end of Harry's bed and said, "This is not the time for questions. I will tell you what I know, and what must be done."
Dumbledore seemed oddly professional about this whole thing. Why was he being so strange?
"Erm, okay?" Ginny said confusedly. She obviously noticed something was different as well.
The headmaster's eyes seemed to radiate sadness, but that didn't stop him from continuing.
"We did not catch Lord Voldemort. He managed to escape by means which we do not know."
"But professor," Harry started.
Dumbledore raised his hand slightly and said sternly, "No questions. At least not right now."
Harry stole a glance at Ginny, who looked at him as well. What was going on?
Dumbledore sighed and pulled out something small and green from his pocket.
He looked directly at Harry and said, "I always dreaded the day I would have to show you this, Harry."
Harry took a big gulp and looked at the circular jade object in his hand. Dumbledore handed it to the black-haired boy, who opened it carefully.
Inside was a peculiar surface that reminded him somewhat of a small television screen.
Then, green words started to roll across the black background.
*There is but one way to vanquish the dark lord....Two young enemies, black- haired more eager than red, must join together after a dangerous adventure to create a mix of both....It is this first child who shall have the power to conquer all....He must then follow in the footsteps of his predecessors, choosing the flaming-haired whole blood....It is their child who will enable the one to prevail....*
Harry looked up and said, "But, Professor, I don't understand,...."
Ginny was very frustrated. She had no idea what Harry was talking about, much less what was inside that compact mirror looking thing.
Dumbledore smiled and motioned to Ginny.
"Perhaps you should show her, too?"
Harry tossed it to the girl and she opened it, reading the words.
Her face showed confusion as she snapped it shut and handed it back to the headmaster.
Dumbledore bit his bottom lip as he said, "You didn't understand it either, I presume?"
Ginny shook her head.
"Not really."
Dumbledore pocketed the green thing and then folded his hands.
"Maybe if I gave you a clue?"
This was getting more and more strange. Why wouldn't he just tell them?
"This is a prophecy. It was made in the early 1970s."
That meant nothing to the students.
Dumbledore took a deep breath.
"Fine. Think of the first line, it mentions two people, yes?"
Harry recalled the beginning.
"Yes, but that doesn't explain,--"
Dumbledore shook his head.
"I see we're getting nowhere. I must admit, I didn't want to explain this they way I did last time,...."
Harry was getting extremely aggravated.
"Well, Harry, the first part refers to your parents. Does that help at all?"
Realization fell into place.
Harry started to panic as he put the rest of the paragraph together.
"Professor," he continued, "You can't be serious,--"
"Oh, Harry, I wish I were."
"But she's like a sister to me--"
Ginny knew they were talking about her now, and she wanted desperately to know what was going on.
She pondered over the words she had read in that device of Dumbledore's.
*Two young enemies, black-haired more eager than red, must join together after a dangerous adventure to create a mix of both....It is this first child who shall have the power to conquer all*
Lily and James,.... red haired and black,.... create a mix of both, ....Harry,....
*He must then follow in the footsteps of his predecessors, choosing the flaming-haired whole blood*
Her? No, that couldn't refer to Ginny.
*....It is their child who will enable the one to prevail....*
"Professor?" she asked timidly.
"Yes?" came the kindly reply.
"What's a whole-blood?"
He smiled and said, "Someone who is either all-muggle or all-wizard."
"Oh," she said. Her mind was going a mile per minute. Everything fit, but no, she couldn't be....
A look of horror on Ginny's face let Harry and Dumbledore know that she had figured it out.
"P-Professor," she stuttered, "There's no w-way, I m-mean, I'm only in s- sixth y-year!"
The headmaster smiled grimly and said to Ginny, "Surely, nothing has to be done now, you can both wait until you have graduated."
Harry decided to speak up.
"And what if we don't want to?"
Dumbledore glared at him and said, "Harry, I would think you of all people would see that this is bigger than just you two."
Harry was filled with shame as he looked at Ginny, wondering what she was thinking.
Resolution came across Ginny's face as she said, "I'll do it."
"Are you sure, Ginny? Because you don't have to, I mean,--"
"Oh, Harry, just shut UP! I can DEAL with this!"
A tense silence followed her words, as well as Harry's apology.
Dumbledore resumed to business as always.
"Well, I can see that you two are handling this in a much more mature way than Lily and James did. Now, presumably, you two will want to get married?"
The students looked at him without emotion.
"It may defer awkward questions."
Ginny nodded, and Dumbledore continued.
"Ms. Weasley, it will be up to you if you tell your parents the real reason for your sudden 'love interest.'"
Ginny thought for a moment, and then said, "No, I don't think I will. Tell them, I mean."
"Very well," the old man replied.
Harry said, "Professor, do we really have to, well, er...."
"I think you know the process of how to bring about a child, so I will say yes and refrain from going into detail."
"But couldn't we adopt--"
"No, Harry, that is out of the question."
Ginny noted how Dumbledore remained formal while addressing her, and yet felt comfortable enough to call Harry by his first name.
"Now that this is settled, I really must be going."
Dumbledore made to shake Harry's hand, and as he did so, left something small and cold in the student's palm.
The headmaster went to politely do the same to Ginny, minus the secret present he had slipped Harry.
He looked down at the two circular objects that rested in his hand.
They were wedding bands. Two of them.
Harry inspected more closely to see L&J engraved inside a heart on the inner part of both of them.
He pocketed the rings and turned to look at Ginny, who had gone back to reading her magazine.
Harry was glad term ended in less than two months. This was going to be very awkward.
*
*
END OF CHAPTER TWO!!!
*
Chapter three coming soon! But in the meantime, REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW!!!
*
Chapter Two
*
*
Harry ran through the corridor, trying to get back to the common room.
He was three minutes past curfew, and although this was a minor offense, Filch would still probably wring his neck.
He dashed around the last corner and was facing the Fat Lady. After giving her the password and half-listening to her rantings about being out of bed at this hour, Harry slipped into the common room.
"Hiya, Harry!"
He nearly tripped over Dennis Creevey in his attempt to enter Gryffindor Tower.
"Erm, sorry there, Dennis."
"No problem, Harry! None at all!"
Harry shook himself and looked for his two best friends.
He spotted Ron and Hermione sitting at a small table on the far side of the room. Harry made his way over to them, passing through many groups of younger students.
"Hey guys," he said finally.
Ron looked up from his Quidditch magazine to say, "Hullo, Harry."
All he heard from Hermione was a small, "Hi."
Hermione Granger was buried in a large, very old, book about the effects of the Swelling Solution. Her hair was loosely tied behind her with a bright ribbon, and her eyes had large, black circles under them.
"Well, I can see you're busy."
"Hm, you're perceptive."
"Now, Hermione," said Ron, "Is that they way you greet our friend?"
But he got no answer to that. She had already resumed reading.
Harry pulled up a chair and took a seat. He grabbed a Charms textbook out of his shoulder bag and decided to try and finish his essay.
"Harry, mate, how goes it?"
His head turned slowly to see the boy standing behind him.
It was Jean Henri. Jean was a small, blond boy who was incredibly rich. He had a very prominent nose and sturdy build, for someone who was so short. Harry, as Quidditch captain, had chosen him to play chaser that year, and he was pretty good.
"Oh, er, hey."
"Listen, I was just wondering when next practice is."
Ron looked up quizzically. Practice had set days and never changed.
"Monday night, like always," said Harry slowly.
"Oh, right, well, see you."
Jean Henri walked clumsily away.
Ron leaned in towards Harry.
"What was that about?" he asked.
"No idea."
"Hm,...."
"Doesn't matter," said Harry, turning back to his work.
Hermione sighed loudly and Ron said, "Well, is there something you know that we don't?"
She glared at the two of them for interrupting her work, and she said plainly, "Well, it's kind of obvious. He just wanted an excuse to talk to Harry."
"And why would he want that?" asked Ron.
Hermione snapped her book shut. She was definitely not in a good mood.
"Oh, I don't know, let's see here. He's Quidditch Captain, Head Boy, Dumbledore's favorite, and oh yeah, HE'S HARRY POTTER!"
All students in the vicinity were trying to look occupied but listening in at the same time.
"And what does that mean, exactly?" said Ron dangerously.
"You know exactly what the means, Ronald Weasley."
"No, I'm not sure I do."
"HE'S FREAKING FAMOUS! EVERYONE WANTS TO TALK TO HIM! WE'VE BEEN BEST FRIENDS WITH HIM FOR NEARLY SEVEN YEARS, YOU CAN'T TELL ME THAT YOU'RE JUST NOTICING NOW...."
"WELL, EXCUSE ME, BUT I DIDN'T--"
"OF COURSE YOU DIDN'T! YOU NEVER DO!"
With that, Hermione grabbed her schoolwork and headed up to her dorm.
Recently, Ron and Hermione had been constantly fighting. Of course, they had always been getting in arguments, ever since they met in fact, but these past few months it seemed as if the tension was at an all-time high.
"Hey, man, what was that about--"
"Don't wanna talk about it," Ron said gloomily, before picking up his belongings as well.
"Where are you going--" Harry started.
But he didn't get an answer.
Ron nearly ran up the boys' stairs, and Harry could hear their door slam shut. So could about half the common room.
Harry turned back to his homework, trying to make some headway.
*
It was past midnight when he finished his first paper, and Harry made a decision. He packed up his books and followed the path Ron had taken earlier up to his room.
Harry opened the door slowly, as to not wake up his fellow seventh year Gryffindors. Sure, he could have slept in his private Heads' quarters, but Harry never really liked those. He much preferred his four-poster bed that was like a home to him.
The door made a sickeningly loud squeak, but luckily did not wake his friends. Harry walked over to his bed and fell on top of the covers, completely exhausted.
*
beep—beep—beep
Harry scratched his head.
beep—beep—beep
His right arm flew over to hit the clock beside him. He rolled his head and stretched out his arms. Harry then proceeded to throw off the covers and grab a towel.
Showering in the morning was a practice Harry was used to from living with the Dursleys. Of course, you would shower as early as possible if it meant avoiding the unpleasantness of it after Dudley or Vernon had taken one.
Of course, Harry never knew how they even fit in the shower to begin with.
'Oh, there's a nice image,' thought Harry, squinting his eyes and shaking his head.
He opened the shower door and reached in to turn the pentagonal dial on the wall to "CW" for Comfortably Warm. Harry stripped off his pajamas and threw them in a hamper. He then stepped into the warm water and started to wash his hair.
After about ten minutes, Harry was done cleaning himself and put on his school robes. He saw that everyone but Ron was awake, so he threw back the red-haired boy's curtains and yelled, "HEY RON, WAKE UP!"
But Ron wouldn't stir. Harry tried once again to rouse him, and only succeeded after punching his friend in the arm.
"HARRY! WATCH IT!"
"Glad to see you decided to wake up."
Ron only growled and sat up, blinking profusely.
*
After about five more minutes, Harry and Ron started down to breakfast.
They arrived after Hermione, who was already sitting and waiting for them. She had an expectant look on her face, and her hands rested in her lap.
"Good morning, Harry," she said.
"Er, morning 'Mione."
Hermione purposely did not greet Ron, who sat down quickly and started to eat. Yes, something was up between those two.
Harry sat across from her and pulled a platter of sausages towards him. He picked out two of them and placed them on his plate.
The three of them started up a conversation, only to be interrupted by Dumbledore's morning announcement.
"Silence, please," he began.
The entire hall grew quiet as they looked up to their headmaster.
"I have only a few notices for you today, and I will try to finish with them quickly, so you can all get back to your normal morning-time activities."
Harry glanced at Ron and Hermione, who were staring with rapt attention at the old man.
"Yes, well, third years should note that they are in greenhouse four this week, and Professor Sprout will explain why when you arrive there. First years, please be sure to be back at your dormitories before curfew, and finally, all sixth and seventh years will be taking their astronomy tests tomorrow night. Please be here," he motioned to the dining hall, "at eight o'clock. I think that's all,...."
After a few moments of silence, everyone went back to eating.
*
That day passed in a blur of note taking and boredom. Charms was dedicated to reading their texts and Professor Mcgonagall gave a long lecture during Transfiguration.
Lunch was eagerly anticipated, and all the seventh years were glad when it finally arrived.
Harry and Ron walked into the room and sat at the long table. Harry didn't touch the food, however. He was instead watching Ron, who was watching someone else.
His questions were put to rest when Harry followed Ron's gaze and saw who his friend was looking at.
It was Hermione.
"Hey, 'Mione."
"Hello, Harry. Ron."
Harry tried his best to stifle a laugh as he watched Ron's cheeks turn the lightest shade of pink.
"Hi, Hermione," Ron mumbled, playing with his food.
She sat down briskly and snatched an apple from Ron's plate, eagerly taking a bite. "That was such an interesting class, don't you think? I only hope I got enough notes,...."
"You can shut up now, Hermione."
She and Harry turned to look at the youngest Weasely boy, and gave him questioning glances.
Ron quickly busied himself with pouring pumpkin juice. But that didn't stop Harry from catching the sideways glances he was directing at the only girl present.
*
History of Magic was a double period of that day, giving most students an extra few hours to nap. They heard nothing of ogre treaties or pixie bans, and paid no mind to Binns' rambling about animal experimentation laws.
But Harry did his best to stay awake, as he was still confused about something.
He scribbled a few sentences on a scrap of spare parchment and proceeded to crumple it up into a ball. Harry then raised his wand and muttered a small charm.
The paper started to float in the air, heading slowly for Ron's desk. The time it spent in the air was torturous, because Harry didn't know if Binns would catch him. Although this seemed unlikely, he didn't care.
Finally, Ron felt the small note hit the back of his neck. His arm flashed up to grab it, and he flattened it out on his desk. His eyes widened as he read what his friend had written.
*Ron-
What's up between you and Hermione? You can tell me.*
*
Ron's head jerked up as he finished, and he quickly grabbed his quill to write a response.
It was too bad that he didn't know the same spell Harry did, though. Ron simply threw the parchment aimlessly over his shoulder.
"Accio Paper," Harry whispered, thinking fast. The note halted halfway through it's flight, and headed straight towards Harry.
He held it under the desk and started to read the one word Ron had written.
*
*Nothing.*
*
Harry pursed his lips and quickly sent one back that said,
*
*Bullshit. Just tell me.*
*
His response was somewhat longer, but still didn't reveal anything.
*
*Promise not to laugh?*
*
Harry closed his eyes and jotted down one word.
*
*Yes.*
*
Ron looked uncomfortable as he read, this, but Harry didn't know why. He watched Ron slowly print out a few phrases and throw it back to him.
*
*Okay, but don't let her know I told you.*
*
Harry glared at Ron, and he seemed to get the message. He ripped off a piece of paper and wrote another note.
*
*I think I fancy her.*
*
Harry rolled his eyes and wrote,
*
*It's kind of obvious. What happened?*
*
Ron was getting more and more antsy, and kept shifting in his seat.
*
*I kissed her. On Sunday night.*
*
Harry blinked and reread these last few words.
*
*Did she kiss you back?*
*
*Yes*
*
Harry wanted to find out more, but the bell rang, signaling the end of class.
He jumped up to ask Ron about his encounter, but didn't get the chance, seeing as Hermione was standing there as well.
*
The rest of the day passed without anything abnormal happening. Dinner was spent talking with Ron, Hermione, and Ginny about N.E.W.T.s, which Ginny wouldn't even have to take for another year.
Harry thought the next best time to talk to Ron would be at night, in their dorm. But he was mistaken.
Ron went up to bed around ten, closely followed by Harry. When they arrived in their room, he tried to pry some more information from his best friend.
"When did this happen?" Harry asked.
"What?" replied Ron, trying to act oblivious.
"You know what I mean."
"No, I don't."
Harry was just about to hit Ron upside the head with a nearby Potions textbook, but he was spared the trouble by Neville, Seamus, and Dean entering the room.
Ron gave him a deadly look as if to say, 'Not now.'
Harry nodded and went to get ready for bed.
*
_
*
_
*He was flying on his Firebolt, he was about to catch the snitch, he had the attention of half the girls in his school, he felt his fingers wrap around the tiny golden ball,....*
"Harry?"
*They were cheering his name....*
"Harry!"
*Suddenly, his broomstick started to swerve and move in unpredictable directions. He was barely holding on to it. He fell off and started to fall....*
"OI! HARRY!!"
He felt a pair of cold hands grasp his face and start to shake him. Harry's arms flew up to protect himself.
"BLOODY HELL, HARRY! YOU HIT ME RIGHT IN THE NOSE!"
He felt around for his glasses, and, when he finally put them on, surveyed the scene.
Ron was standing, bent over, on the floor next to him. Harry was still lying in bed, and the clock read nearly ten.
"Ron?" he asked, "Are you okay?"
His best friend of almost seven years looked up at him and gave him a grim smile.
"I'll be fine. Tried to wake you up....Didn't think you'd try and attack me..."
Harry scoffed.
"Sorry, mate."
Ron turned back to grab his cloak, and Harry noticed that he was fully dressed, but not in his school uniform.
"Where're you going?"
"Breakfast, you dolt."
Harry remembered that it was Saturday morning, and hurried to get dressed as well.
*
Breakfast was over by the time they arrived. Harry and Ron barely managed to snag two muffins from a deserted Gryffindor table before the entire spread was cleared.
The boys then went to look for Hermione, who was in the Library.
"Oh, look, Harry! It's Hermione! Never knew we'd find her here,...." Ron said as he spotted their other friend sitting in the corner of the library.
Harry puzzled over why Ron was acting so....well, hostile....towards Hermione. All of his comments were dripping with sarcasm and he seemed to be constantly picking a fight.
"Well, thank you Ron, but I was just planning on getting out of here."
"Now, why on earth would you want to spend time somewhere other than here?" Ron said, motioning to the dark and dusty rows of books, which gave off an oddly musty smell.
Hermione only shook her head and headed towards the door, leaving two confused boys in her wake.
They looked at each other and then yelled, "Wait up there, Hermione."
*
The three Gryffindors spent the afternoon outside, walking endless amounts of laps around the lake.
Ron looked up at the clear November sky, and said, "As much as I love exercise, this is getting pretty boring."
Hermione looked down at her watch, and said, "It's already past lunch, there won't be any food left."
They stood in silence for a few moments, thinking of what to do.
Harry suggested, "Let's go and visit Hagrid."
Ron and Hermione couldn't think of anything better to do, so the three of them walked towards the small cottage on the edge of the grounds.
Smoke was curling up from the chimney, and as they approached the wooden door, Fang's loud barks could be heard from inside.
The door burst open and the very tall man said, "Ah, 'ello there, 'Arry, Ron, 'Ermione. C'mon in."
The students stepped over the threshold and looked around. Over the years, Hagrid's home had changed very little. There was still the same dirty patchwork quilt covering the bed in the corner, the same square table in the middle of the room, and the same fireplace on the opposite wall.
Hagrid started to busy himself with making tea, saying, "So, what brings you down here?"
Hermione quickly took the teapot away from Hagrid and insisted on making the drinks herself. The three of them had sampled the groundskeeper's cooking, and it wasn't something they wanted to experience again.
All four of them sat around the table for the remainder of the afternoon, catching up on recent news. Before they knew it, it was time for dinner.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione trudged up the hill to the castle in the darkening cold.
Dinner was a lively affair. Everyone in the two oldest classes were overjoyed by the prospect of being allowed out of bed, hours past curfew. They didn't seem to notice that the reason was for an important test. Anyways, most of the students were planning on sneaking off after the exam, to, well,....
"This school has a severe problem with raging hormones," commented Hermione.
"Couldn't agree more," said Ron smoothly, smiling at her. She didn't take the bait, however. Hermione simply widened her eyes and turned back to her small novel.
Harry started to laugh quietly at his tall friend, who then took that opportunity to elbow him in the face.
"Shut it," he whispered.
But Harry didn't have time to respond, because Dumbledore once again stood up to make an announcement.
"As you can see," he said, the hall growing silent, "Supper is nearing an end. That means it is nearly three-quarters past seven o'clock in the evening. Would all of the older students please hurry to finish their meals and grab whatever supplies necessary from their dormitories. Other pupils should note that they must evacuate the Dining Hall in less than twenty minutes. Thank you."
Ron leapt out of his seat, closely followed by Harry and Hermione. They hurried up to Gryffindor Tower, and fetched their telescopes and star charts. When they got back to the Great Hall, they saw that the entire room had been reorganized. Instead of the four long tables that were used for eating, many different tables of all shapes and sizes were scattered about the room, accompanied by very cozy looking chairs.
"Awesome," laughed Ron, running for the nearest leather recliner. He jumped into it and made himself comfortable.
Hermione rolled her eyes and followed Harry over to the circular table, sitting on a worn, plaid armchair. Harry grabbed a plush, velvety one and sat between his two friends.
Hermione pulled out her charts and was studying them fervently, while Ron was carefully etching small notes onto the bottom of his shoe.
Harry decided not to do either, and lay back in his chair, observing the rest of the room.
Dean, Seamus, and Neville were sitting halfway across the room at a table with a bright tablecloth, and Draco Malfoy had found a sturdy wooden table and was accompanied by Crabbe and Goyle. Ginny Weasley sat on a footrest at a table with the rest of her sixth year friends, just to Harry's right. Lavender and Parvati shared a small, square table that looked as if it could have been pulled from a street-side café.
There was a loud whistling noise, and the students quieted.
"Thank you for your cooperation," their astronomy teacher said, "And I hope we can finish with this quickly. Seventh years will go first, followed by sixth years. Naturally, you will be tested in alphabetical order."
"Damn," Ron said, "I'm last!"
But Ginny leaned over to her brother from her table and said while smiling, "No, you're a seventh year. I'M last."
Ron shrugged and went back to writing on his foot.
Harry was getting incredibly bored, and went back to listening to the end of the teacher's speech.
"I would appreciate it if you would all please remain in the Dining Hall until everyone has finished testing? That way we can keep track of you, since it will be after curfew...."
"Tough luck, mate," Harry heard a burly sixth year Ravenclaw mutter to the teacher, while grabbing his girlfriend's hand.
He started to zone out, and presently found himself asleep. He dreamt of Quidditch and girls, as usual, and was only awoken once, when Hermione snapped her book shut to leave and be tested. Harry woke again when Ron hit him in the arm.
"Whassat?" Harry mumbled.
"That's you, mate. You're up."
Harry cleared his mind and stood up, following four other seventh years out of the room.
They walked in silence up to the Astronomy Tower, and Harry found himself wishing they had picked a more practical place for the students to wait. Somewhere much closer to the testing area.
The finally arrived at the tower, and Professor Sinistra met them there.
Harry was third in line to go out on the rooftop, and was starting to get a little nervous. When he was finally called, he nearly dropped his telescope.
"Hello, there Mr. Potter," came the greeting from Professor Sinistra.
"Hello, professor."
"Now if I could just ask you to locate Venus for me,...."
Harry spent the next ten minutes finding planets and constellations, occasionally giving the background on its name and origin.
"Well done, Mr. Potter."
Harry couldn't disagree more. Astronomy was his worst subject, after Potions. Divination was conveniently out of the picture, as he had dropped it after fifth year. Aurors did not need to know about fortune telling.
He left the tower and made his way back to the Dining Hall. Harry spotted Ron and Hermione instantly and walked over to them.
"Well?" asked Ron.
"Well what?" replied Harry.
"How'd it go?" Ron corrected.
"Bloody horrible. Pulled a Divination."
"Made it up?" Ron asked jokingly.
"You know it."
"You two are so,..." Hermione started.
"Clever?" supplied Ron.
"Brilliant?" suggested Harry.
"Handsome?" Ron laughed.
"Childish!" Hermione shot.
"Well, we knew that one already, 'Mione." Ron replied.
She only sighed and turned back to her work.
After about another half hour, Ron's name was called and he trudged up to the tower with the last of the seventh years.
Harry turned to Hermione and studied her. She was bent over what looked like an old book about strange symbols.
"What's this for?" Harry asked, grabbing the text.
"Ancient Runes," Hermione sighed, reaching back for the tome.
Harry saw that she wasn't in the mood to talk about it, so he decided to change the subject. After all, he didn't want to sit in silence, and there were still some things he had to figure out.
"So, you and Ron?"
Hermione froze and her mouth opened slightly. Her gaze slowly shifted from the pages before her to Harry's face.
"What are you talking about?" she tried to cover up.
"Don't play that with me. I'm not as thick as I seem."
She looked like a guilty criminal.
"Besides, it's not like its that hard to see,...."
Hermione set her book down and said sharply, "Well, you'd best keep quiet about it."
She then resumed her reading, but her eyes didn't move.
"He really rates you, you know."
Hermione once again looked up from the book in her hands, and before she could stop herself, said quietly, "Really?"
Harry barely had time to laugh before said Ron came waltzing back to the table, looking smug as ever.
"Do well?" asked Harry.
"No," Ron replied happily.
"Then why are you smiling?"
"I just saw Malfoy fall on his face."
Harry turned around to face the other side of the room, and sure enough, there was a very rumpled Malfoy lying on the floor.
"HA!" Harry exclaimed, drawing the attention of even more students.
But Draco seemed to sense the gaze of almost every person in the hall, and stood up.
"Ah," said Ron, "That makes up for my bad Astronomy grade. Say, how long 'till we can get outta here?"
Harry looked at his watch and saw that it was half past nine.
"Bout an hour and a half, seeing as we're halfway done."
They could see couples leaving the room frequently, most not planning on returning that night.
Harry knew that he should leave Ron and Hermione to figure things out, so he turned to talk to Ginny, who was sitting alone now that her two friends had gone to be tested. Unfortunately for her, their names started at the beginning of the alphabet.
Harry got up and took a seat next to Ginny in a large, purple chair.
"Hey," he said, breaking her concentration from her notes.
"Oh, Harry. Hey," she said, smiling, "Just trying to study, you know...."
"Maybe I can help?" Harry said, chancing a glance back at Ron and Hermione, who were now deep in conversation.
"And how is that?" Ginny asked curiously.
"I took sixth year astronomy already. I'll quiz you."
Ginny looked at him gratefully and tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear, but it came out almost immediately.
"That'd be great," she said, passing him her notes.
Ginny's friends never came back, mainly for two reasons. For one, they saw her sitting with Harry Potter, and, moreover, they both had boyfriends to sneak away with. Halfway through Harry questioning her on Jupiter's moons, Ron and Hermione 'discreetly' rose from their chairs and walked out of the room.
Ginny seemed to notice Harry's attention was on the two Gryffindors, and she said, "Well, good for them."
"Yeah, I know," he replied, and then continued to help her study. The number of students in the room significantly diminished as the time wore on. None of them seemed to care about Professor Sinistra's words at the beginning of the night.
Finally, Ginny's name was called, and she left with the last of the sixth years to be tested. Harry reclined in his chair, trying to get a bit of sleep. Ron and Hermione were still not back, and Dean and Seamus seemed to have left with Lavender and Parvati. There was no one here that Harry knew or could talk to comfortably, save for Neville, who was currently chatting with Luna Lovegood. Not wanting to interrupt, Harry remained in his seat until someone he knew entered.
But nothing of the sort happened. Loud, running footsteps echoed in the hallway, along with occasional screams, and Harry leapt out of his seat when he saw the last testing group come running in—without Ginny.
"Death Eaters!" one skinny blond girl cried, "Upstairs!"
But there were hardly any students left, so only about an eighth of the upper classmen population were alerted.
Professor Flitwick, the teacher who had been assigned to watch over the students in the hall, was quickly awoken and he squealed with terror when he heard the news.
Harry's head started to spin. Death Eaters? At Hogwarts? How could it be? Sure, there had been more of these kinds of attacks over the last two years, ever since Voldemort had been acknowledged as being back. But never at school.
Where was everyone? Where they safe? Harry quickly counted off in his head. Ron and Hermione were undoubtedly together, most likely in the common room. He doubted Hermione would want to be caught out of bounds. Ginny was—
"Where's Ginny?" Harry demanded of the frightened sixth years.
They trembled, but one of them finally spurted out, "Still....upstairs....was taking.....test...."
That was all Harry needed to hear. He threw open the doors to the Great Hall and rushed to the stairs. He barreled through the many corridors, cursing the long distance between the main entrance and the tallest tower. He nearly hit a suit of armor on his way, but didn't stop. Harry's face started to heat as he kept running, trying to think of anything but what he expected to find.
He took the last flight of stairs four at a time, his breath getting ragged. He felt his ankle twist, but didn't pay any attention to the throbbing pain in his foot.
Harry held out his hand to grab the wall as he rounded the last corner. He surveyed the area, which was suspiciously devoid of any type of Death Eater. The hall was exactly as he had seen it last, when he had taken his test.
But he had thought too fast. A tall, cloaked figure emerged from behind the opposite corner of the corridor, brandishing a wand.
The man started towards him, saying the beginnings of a deadly curse.
Harry whipped out his own wand and cast a jet of red light at the man, stunning him quickly.
The Death Eater fell over backwards, head lolling on the floor.
Harry then proceeded to jog to the other end of the hallway, and turned the corner.
He felt a cold, clammy hand grab him from behind and start to choke him.
He dug his wand into the dark figure's ribcage and managed to cough through the chokehold, "Incendio."
The man's cloak started on fire, and had to let go of Harry's neck to try and put out the flame.
He whipped around and yelled, "Incarceratus!"
Thick ropes burst out of the end of Harry's wand, which tied the Death Eater as he fell to the floor.
"Master!" the man cried, "Master!"
Harry thought quickly as he cast a silencing charm on the man, preventing anyone from hearing him.
He then turned to see four figures in the room at the end of the corridor.
He recognized two of them as people he knew, and the other two as Death Eaters.
Voldemort was holding Ginny Weasely in the air, by her arm. He was flanked by two of his followers.
"Well, Potter, how nice to see you again," Voldemort drawled.
"Sorry, I can't say the same for you," Harry retorted.
Voldemort let out a low laugh, followed by the two men in cloaks. Ginny's face showed pure terror. Her deep brown eyes were opened wide, tears starting to gather in the corners. Voldemort was really hurting her by holding her up like that. Harry was worried he might do permanent damage to her shoulder, and tried to stop him.
"Put her down," the boy said dangerously.
"Or what?" Voldemort said, "You'll kill us all? Sorry Potter."
Harry was shaking by this time. He didn't know if it was from anger, fear for Ginny, or just the pain in his ankle.
"Just put her down."
Voldemort laughed once again, and said casually, "No, I don't think I will. You see, Potter, I need her. I'm not sure what for yet, actually, but,--"
Voldemort needed Ginny? She seemed to have heard this as well, because she started to wriggle against his grasp and tried to kick him.
"Ah, silly girl," Voldemort droned, "Would you like a little taste of what pain really is?"
"No!" Harry shouted, but to no avail.
Voldemort yelled in a sinister voice, "CRUCIO!"
He dropped the small redhead on the floor. She gave out a piercing scream and started to shake. Harry's ears ached from just hearing the pain she was in, and he remembered what that felt like, having been put under the curse multiple times.
He ran forward, holding out his wand dangerously.
Before he could do anything, however, Voldemort lifted the spell.
Ginny continued to twitch, hunched over in the fetal position. Her small cries filled the room, and Harry wanted to get revenge.
"Wait just a minute, Potter," Voldmort purred.
Harry looked at him, ready to do something horrible.
"I don't doubt that you have the power to kill me, Harry. You undoubtedly hate me"
'Damn right,' Harry thought to himself, shaking with rage.
"But just hear me out," he said in a sickly sweet voice.
Harry glared at him, waiting.
But instead of continuing the conversation, Voldemort aimed his wand at Harry's chest and quickly yelled, "EXPELLIARMUS!"
The Head Boy went flying, but held on to his wand tightly. He wasn't about to give up his only weapon....
Harry felt the skin on his shoulder tear open as he hit the floor, skidding to a halt.
His outstretched hand still held his wand, but Voldemort was closing in.
In a matter of seconds, the old man had reached Harry. He lifted his foot carefully and placed in on Harry's wrist, steadily applying pressure. After a few moments, he could no longer hold onto his wand. Harry's only defense rolled away as he heard the bones in his wrist cracking,....
Voldemort took his foot off of Harry's hand and kicked away they boy's wand. He then picked him up by the collar of his shirt and brought him up to eyelevel.
"Here we are again, Harry Potter. Please tell me, how are you going to get out of this one?"
Harry only gave him a sad smile as his eyes darted away from Voldemort's face. The man did not know it, but a plan was formulating.
"What's so funny, boy?" he cried, shaking Harry furiously.
He only laughed as the two of them heard a weak, "Furnunculus."
Voldemort let Harry go as his hands flew immediately to his lower back, starting to pat the area that Ginny had aimed her spell at only moments before. Although none of them could see it, large and painful boils were starting to break out all over Lord Voldemort's backside.
Ginny threw Harry his wand, which she had picked up and used to hex Voldemort.
He immediately caught it and pointed it at the two Death Eaters. They were currently running towards them, but he yelled, "IMPEDIMENTA!" and they both slowed down considerably. He took aim and sent two stunning spells their way. They fell to the ground and lay there limply.
Harry grabbed Ginny's hand and tried to pull her out of the tower, but was stopped by a very angry Lord Voldemort.
"Crucio!" he boomed, doing his best to aim at the two students. The curse hit Harry in the back, but he continued to run through the pain.
'Have to get her out of here,' was all he thought.
Ginny was weak as well, but she grabbed Harry under the arm and they made their way around the nearby corner, and she grabbed his wand once again, shouting, "Finite Incantatem!"
Harry felt the pain lift, but his legs were still shaky, especially his injured ankle. He leaned against the wall and fell down into a sitting position as Voldemort appeared next to them.
"I knew you wouldn't get far," the evil man said, taking arrogant steps back and forth in front of them.
Harry only looked up at the man, thinking. Ginny was crouched next to him, once again trembling. Harry took his hand and placed it on her arm, trying to comfort and protect her at the same time.
"Oh, how sweet," Voldemort said sarcastically, "Potter's found himself a girlfriend. Well, I guess now would be a good time to tell you a little story. One about your dear, precious parents,...."
"Don't you dare talk about them," Harry said in a scary voice. Even Voldemort faltered when he heard the boy speak like that.
"You do remind me quite a bit of your father, Harry. Same hair, face, love for redheads...."
"I said, SHUT IT!"
Harry was standing in front of Ginny, wand raised.
Voldemort was clearly angry from being told to 'shut it.'
"Surely, Harry, aside from you, I have the most right to talk of them. I did, after all, kill those two fools,...."
Harry's face started to redden with pure malice.
"....so BOLD, so COURAGEOUS, so NOBLE,...."
Harry whispered in a stony voice, "Stop."
But Voldmort continued.
"....so KIND,....ergh, it makes me SICK!"
Harry had had enough. He leapt for the man who had brought about his parents' death, and attempted to murder him with his bare hands. He grabbed any part he could reach, hitting, pulling, biting, punching,....
Harry heard a large crack that could be identified as the breaking of the Dark Lord's nose.
But all too soon, Ginny pulled him off of Voldemort, trying to run out of there.
"HARRY! LET'S GO!"
"GET OFF ME, GINNY!" Harry yelled, running back to the man who was already starting to stand up.
But Ginny didn't let go, and showed amazing strength for someone so small. Harry finally saw things her way, once Voldemort started to look around for his wand.
The two students bolted out of the corridor and towards the steps. They heard Voldemort pick up one of his stunned Death Eater's wands and start hurling curses at them.
"AVADA KEDAVRA!" they heard as a beam of deadly green light shot past them and hit a nearby vase.
They bounded over the previously stunned men, their minds on one goal: the stairs.
Voldemort was keeping up with them. He was in surprisingly good shape for a man who was so old.
Harry grabbed his wand and aimed it over his shoulder.
"STUPEFY!" he yelled as red light sprang from his wand, barely missing their pursuer.
Harry attempted to curse Lord Voldemort many consecutive times over the back of his shoulder. Finally, the blue light from his Knee-Reversing Hex made contact with the man, giving them extra time to run while he stopped to figure out the counter curse.
They were one corridor from the Grand Staircase, and couldn't stop running. Not now, at least. There was bound to be help waiting for them there.
Finally, the Grand Staircase was in view. Harry's ankle felt as if it was being pounded by a hammer of significant size, and both of them were close to fainting.
By the time they were halfway down, Voldmort had reached the top.
"AVADA KEDAVRA!" he shot, as Harry grabbed Ginny and pulled her out of the way. The staircase was much too large. It gave them no protection from incoming spells. Harry thought quickly and set Ginny on the railing, climbing up after her. They then swung around to the opposite side and jumped the fifteen feet to the stone floor.
The landing would have been painful anyways, but Harry landed directly on his injured foot, and he also served as the pad for Ginny's fall.
She rolled off of him and croaked, "Are you okay?"
He didn't answer, but instead used her support to help him stand. They did their best to run behind the large engraving of some mythical creature at the end of the stairs, carved right into the railing.
"AVADA KEDAVRA!" Voldemort screamed, blasting off half of their cover.
Harry spun around and used Ginny's shoulder to help him stand, yelling, "LOCOMOTOR MORTIS!"
Voldemort's legs automatically stuck together, which resulted in him falling and tripping down the remainder of the stairs.
When the Dark Lord finally came to a stop in front of Harry, he simply stared up at him.
But just then, the doors to the Dining Hall burst open as a parade of teachers stormed out, including Dumbledore himself.
Taking advantage of Harry's lack of attention, Voldemort quietly muttered the counter curse and sprang up. Harry whipped around to see the tall man standing behind him, starting to run up from the direction he came.
Harry stood there, watching Voldemort sprint up the Grand Staircase. The professors started after him, leaving Harry and Ginny at the foot.
The two students watched silently as the teachers chased Voldemort into the Transfiguration wing, all shouting curses, hexes, and spells at every opportunity.
Suddenly, the pain in Harry's ankle seemed to multiply, and his vision was clouded. He slumped down next to Ginny, who seemed to be experiencing the same effect.
They sat together, slowly drifting out of conciousness.
*
*
"Harry?"
"HARRY?"
"HARRY!!"
His eyes started to flutter as he awoke. There was a bright light shining in his eyes, and he was lying in the unmistakable white linens that belonged to the Hospital Wing.
Harry quickly sat up and grabbed his glasses. He looked around the room, trying to get his bearings.
"Why am I in the infirmary?" he asked to the two people sitting next to him, who he recognized as Ron and Hermione.
They seemed relieved that he was talking, and Ron laughed.
"Because you just took on You-Know-Who," he said dumbly, "and fainted, as usual..."
Memories of that night came flooding back to Harry in tiny snippets. Astronomy Tower,...Stairs,....Ginny,....
"Where's Ginny?" he asked quickly.
Hermione smiled and patted his hand gently. She then leaned over to the side, revealing another hospital bed, much like Harry's, behind her. Sitting straight up, reading a magazine, was Ginny Weasley. There was a hint of a bruise above her left eyebrow, but other than that she looked perfectly well.
"Glad to see you're okay, Harry," she said brightly.
He only smiled at her, and then his attention came back to his fellow seventh years.
"What happened?" Harry asked, fingers massaging his temples.
"I think that I would like to field that question, if I may?"
All four students looked over to the doors to the Hospital Wing, from which their headmaster had just entered.
He walked briskly over to the two beds, and said in a nice but firm voice, "Ms. Granger, Mr. Weasley, I think I should probably speak with these two alone."
Ron was about to protest when Dumbledore cut him off.
"I am perfectly sure that they will relay the information to you, but for now, if you could please lend us some privacy?"
Hermione gathered her books in her bag and grabbed Ron by the arm, pulling him out of the room.
Ron gave Harry a face that clearly read, "You-had-better-tell-me-what-he- says-or-else."
Harry gave his friend a small nod and turned back to Dumbledore.
When Hermione and Ron had closed the door, the old man sat at the end of Harry's bed and said, "This is not the time for questions. I will tell you what I know, and what must be done."
Dumbledore seemed oddly professional about this whole thing. Why was he being so strange?
"Erm, okay?" Ginny said confusedly. She obviously noticed something was different as well.
The headmaster's eyes seemed to radiate sadness, but that didn't stop him from continuing.
"We did not catch Lord Voldemort. He managed to escape by means which we do not know."
"But professor," Harry started.
Dumbledore raised his hand slightly and said sternly, "No questions. At least not right now."
Harry stole a glance at Ginny, who looked at him as well. What was going on?
Dumbledore sighed and pulled out something small and green from his pocket.
He looked directly at Harry and said, "I always dreaded the day I would have to show you this, Harry."
Harry took a big gulp and looked at the circular jade object in his hand. Dumbledore handed it to the black-haired boy, who opened it carefully.
Inside was a peculiar surface that reminded him somewhat of a small television screen.
Then, green words started to roll across the black background.
*There is but one way to vanquish the dark lord....Two young enemies, black- haired more eager than red, must join together after a dangerous adventure to create a mix of both....It is this first child who shall have the power to conquer all....He must then follow in the footsteps of his predecessors, choosing the flaming-haired whole blood....It is their child who will enable the one to prevail....*
Harry looked up and said, "But, Professor, I don't understand,...."
Ginny was very frustrated. She had no idea what Harry was talking about, much less what was inside that compact mirror looking thing.
Dumbledore smiled and motioned to Ginny.
"Perhaps you should show her, too?"
Harry tossed it to the girl and she opened it, reading the words.
Her face showed confusion as she snapped it shut and handed it back to the headmaster.
Dumbledore bit his bottom lip as he said, "You didn't understand it either, I presume?"
Ginny shook her head.
"Not really."
Dumbledore pocketed the green thing and then folded his hands.
"Maybe if I gave you a clue?"
This was getting more and more strange. Why wouldn't he just tell them?
"This is a prophecy. It was made in the early 1970s."
That meant nothing to the students.
Dumbledore took a deep breath.
"Fine. Think of the first line, it mentions two people, yes?"
Harry recalled the beginning.
"Yes, but that doesn't explain,--"
Dumbledore shook his head.
"I see we're getting nowhere. I must admit, I didn't want to explain this they way I did last time,...."
Harry was getting extremely aggravated.
"Well, Harry, the first part refers to your parents. Does that help at all?"
Realization fell into place.
Harry started to panic as he put the rest of the paragraph together.
"Professor," he continued, "You can't be serious,--"
"Oh, Harry, I wish I were."
"But she's like a sister to me--"
Ginny knew they were talking about her now, and she wanted desperately to know what was going on.
She pondered over the words she had read in that device of Dumbledore's.
*Two young enemies, black-haired more eager than red, must join together after a dangerous adventure to create a mix of both....It is this first child who shall have the power to conquer all*
Lily and James,.... red haired and black,.... create a mix of both, ....Harry,....
*He must then follow in the footsteps of his predecessors, choosing the flaming-haired whole blood*
Her? No, that couldn't refer to Ginny.
*....It is their child who will enable the one to prevail....*
"Professor?" she asked timidly.
"Yes?" came the kindly reply.
"What's a whole-blood?"
He smiled and said, "Someone who is either all-muggle or all-wizard."
"Oh," she said. Her mind was going a mile per minute. Everything fit, but no, she couldn't be....
A look of horror on Ginny's face let Harry and Dumbledore know that she had figured it out.
"P-Professor," she stuttered, "There's no w-way, I m-mean, I'm only in s- sixth y-year!"
The headmaster smiled grimly and said to Ginny, "Surely, nothing has to be done now, you can both wait until you have graduated."
Harry decided to speak up.
"And what if we don't want to?"
Dumbledore glared at him and said, "Harry, I would think you of all people would see that this is bigger than just you two."
Harry was filled with shame as he looked at Ginny, wondering what she was thinking.
Resolution came across Ginny's face as she said, "I'll do it."
"Are you sure, Ginny? Because you don't have to, I mean,--"
"Oh, Harry, just shut UP! I can DEAL with this!"
A tense silence followed her words, as well as Harry's apology.
Dumbledore resumed to business as always.
"Well, I can see that you two are handling this in a much more mature way than Lily and James did. Now, presumably, you two will want to get married?"
The students looked at him without emotion.
"It may defer awkward questions."
Ginny nodded, and Dumbledore continued.
"Ms. Weasley, it will be up to you if you tell your parents the real reason for your sudden 'love interest.'"
Ginny thought for a moment, and then said, "No, I don't think I will. Tell them, I mean."
"Very well," the old man replied.
Harry said, "Professor, do we really have to, well, er...."
"I think you know the process of how to bring about a child, so I will say yes and refrain from going into detail."
"But couldn't we adopt--"
"No, Harry, that is out of the question."
Ginny noted how Dumbledore remained formal while addressing her, and yet felt comfortable enough to call Harry by his first name.
"Now that this is settled, I really must be going."
Dumbledore made to shake Harry's hand, and as he did so, left something small and cold in the student's palm.
The headmaster went to politely do the same to Ginny, minus the secret present he had slipped Harry.
He looked down at the two circular objects that rested in his hand.
They were wedding bands. Two of them.
Harry inspected more closely to see L&J engraved inside a heart on the inner part of both of them.
He pocketed the rings and turned to look at Ginny, who had gone back to reading her magazine.
Harry was glad term ended in less than two months. This was going to be very awkward.
*
*
END OF CHAPTER TWO!!!
*
Chapter three coming soon! But in the meantime, REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW!!!