A/N: Okay, that chapter was very confusing. The spacing got very messed up and then I couldn't fix it! To sum it up: Calista and all her siblings were thought dead, but were really alive. Amara was brought back by Voldemort to serve him but she wants to take over instead. (She was brought up as Vega, from a baby, and is Calista's sister.) Hopefully that makes it a bit easier to understand, but none of that will matter much until the next story anyway: ) So read and review!
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Chapter 70: (For real) Lol. (The numbering was mixed up on the last chapter).
"I know, Ron. That was such an awful battle! Do they know the Death Toll yet? It's been at least four hours…"
"I don't think so, 'Mione. I'm just so glad none of my family was hurt-"
"Me too! Especially after Charlie chased after the Death Eaters like that, and Voldemort…"
"Don't say the name."
"Ron, honestly! I understand how you feel and all, but—it's just- you're right, Ron. I don't care. After what just happened…"
"It's all right, 'Mione, come on—" There was a faint sound of whimpering. Harry was half- awake and the pain was beginning to come back. His scar felt ablaze, and all of his muscles were very tight. His arm was searing a bit, and he felt a sharp pain in his chest. "Oh, 'Mione—there, there… stop crying, sweetie—"
"No, R-Ron, it's n-n-not all right! T-twenty students are d-d-dead, eight of them in the DA! A-and at l-least 30 Aurors and Order members are d-dead, and over s-seventy people are in Saint Mungo's and the infirmary here is f-filled! What if Lenore doesn't…" There were more sobbing noises and Harry noticed that there was a low buzz filling the entire room of hushed whispers and sobs. Suddenly, everything raced back into his mind- Amara- Vega- Voldemort- Ginny- Draco- Lenore! And Alicia- Alicia was dead! He bolted up.
"Whoa!" said Ron loudly. "Hey, mate—are you all right, there?" Harry ignored him and fumbled for his glasses. He put them on and began to swing his legs over the edge of the bed. He had to find Dumbledore- or Lenore. Where was she? Even Snape- he had to find Dumbledore! Where was Ginny? Was Ginny okay?
"Harry!" said Hermione's familiar voice. "Get back into bed; what are you doing?" Harry opened his eyes and looked into the honey-colored eyes of his concerned friend.
"'Mione- I have to find Dumbledore." Hermione and Ron looked horrified.
"Harry, he knows already! Just get back into bed, it'll all be all right."
Harry shook his head and pushed past them. "No, I have to find- where's Lenore?"
Suddenly Madame Pomfrey entered the room. Harry looked at her blankly as her face contorted into a mixture of worry and annoyance. "Miss Granger! Mr. Weasley! I told you to keep an eye on him!" She walked over and placed a hand on Harry's arm, escorting him back to his bed. "You weren't even supposed to be awake for another six hours! What in the world is going on? Come now, back to bed Mr. Potter!"
"No Madame Pomfrey," said Harry, pushing towards the door. "I need to tell Dumbledore something-"
"Not yet, you don't! Do not worry, Mr. Potter! The battle is over! Dumbledore knows. Just get back into bed like a good lad and I'll administer more of this Sleeping Draught—"
"Wait!" said Harry desperately. He was slowly coming back to his senses. "I'm not tired! I'll go back to bed- but please let me talk with Ron and Hermione?" Madame Pomfrey sighed and tutted.
"Fine- but no getting out of bed!" Harry nodded. With that, Madame Pomfrey left to tend to what looked like Dennis Creevey in the bed beside Harry. Harry turned to his friends, eyes wide and alert.
"What happened? How is Ginny? Lenore? I tried, but- and Vega! Where's Dumbledore- who got hurt? Did we capture any Death Eaters?"
"Whoa, Harry," said Ron quietly. "One at a time. We'll try to answer everything." Hermione nodded beside him in earnest.
"Okay," said Harry slowly, noticing how pale both of his friends had become. "Start with when we got separated."
"Well," said Hermione, smiling a little, "All of the Death Eaters, there were ten, who were caught in the blizzard have been captured. The blizzard is still going on, actually- it was so big that it's going to last longer than it should. The Slytherins, or most of them, anyway- are snowed in! We think that Snape and Calista are with them, at least, but we aren't quite sure. The others, Tabby, Draco, Blaise, Malcolm, and for some reason Millicent, Pansy, a seventh year, and three second years are going to be sleeping in the other Houses until we can get rid of the snow… The Gryffindors aren't too pleased about that, but there isn't much we can do, I suppose.
"Anyway, we made it out with everyone else. You guys were gone, though. We figured you just went on without us. Then we all went out to the grounds together. Th-there were Death Eaters everywhere- and they said V-v-voldemort was here… Oh, Harry… we couldn't find any of you! We thought that he might've taken you all or something- it was horrible! Anyway, then Lupin suddenly began transforming- everyone had forgotten it was a full moon, see, and—"
"Did anyone get… bitten?" asked Harry tentatively. Ron and Hermione exchanged glances sadly.
"Actually- yes; two Death Eaters and… a student."
"What student?" asked Harry quickly.
"Tabby's sister, Gwen," said Ron.
"Gwen?" asked Harry, frowning. "Is she all right? Merlin, she was only a third year!" Hermione nodded.
"I know. It's really awful. She's sleeping right now, in the last bed." Ron looked over to where Hermione pointed, shaking his head sadly.
"Where's Lupin?" asked Harry quietly. He knew that his friend wouldn't ever forgive himself for biting a young girl.
"Somewhere in the forest, we think," said Ron. Harry nodded.
"So then what happened? Why was nobody with the dragon?"
"Well, we had quite a few people with the dragon. But Charlie went after You-Know-Who, two Aurors were killed, Tonks took a nasty burn, and suddenly, none of our people were there. Meanwhile, there were loads of Dementors; poor Lisa Turpin got the Kiss… she's in St. Mungo's, I think." Harry braced himself for the worst part.
"What students died?" he asked softly. Tears brimmed in Hermione's eyes once again, and Ron looked to the floor.
"I-in the DA, e-e-eight students d-died. M-Michelle Madley was b-bitten by a Vampire, we t-think. I d-don't know where the t-thing is r-right now, but…" She began crying loudly. Ron put a comforting arm around her.
"Shh, 'Mione… it's all right, hush…" He turned to Harry.
"Justin was killed by Avery; he was trying to keep him away from Mango. Terry Boot jumped in front of a killing curse aimed at Padma… they had just started going out, too. Last week sometime. Eleanor Branstone was a Muggle-born, you know… She died after being under Crucio too long. Natalie MacDonald was killed trying to help Eleanor. We think Serena is dead; she was taken by the Death Eaters somehow, along with some students who weren't in the DA; a Slytherin seventh year that was a Muggle-born. Did you know that Muggle-borns could get into Slytherin?" Ron went on. "Also a fifth year Gryffindor was taken, Sam Nicholson. Anyway, the other three died trying to save others; they were all third years. Kevin Whitby, Orla Quirke, and Eric Jonstone."
"That's it," said Harry slowly.
"What's it?" asked Ron. He slowly smoothed out Hermione's hair as he spoke.
"Next year, if we even have a DA, it's sixth and seventh years only."
"But, Harry!" said Ron. "They wanted to be in it! One third year saved a seventh year! And we were in it as fifth years."
"Maybe fifth years can be in it, too. But it's just too dangerous! All of those young people… four thirteen year-olds are dead, and one's a werewolf, all because they were in this damn DA! God… I almost lost Lenore, my only family, and Ginny and Draco and my two best friends! Alicia's dead! Justin's dead! All because of me… it's all my fault! Sirius, my Mum and Dad, Calista and Evelyn spending so long locked up… Lenore's entire school is dead because she was related to me! That's what it all comes down to, isn't it? ISN'T IT? How many people are injured because of me? How many have lost loved ones? How many don't even have a goddamn life anymore, because of ME?!" he shouted angrily, standing up abruptly. He started towards the door.
"Mr. Potter, may I ask what in Merlin's name you're doing shouting like that in a hospital wing, and where do you think you're going—" Harry kept going. He opened the door.
The last thing he heard before slamming was Hermione's distressed voice. "Harry!"
Harry walked down the dark corridors which looked no different then they had this morning, before everything happened. He didn't honestly care where he was going. He just wanted to be alone… No, he wanted to hurt something! Harry picked up his pace, wanting to find something; anything that he could take his anger out on.
It wasn't long before he found the perfect target.
"Mr. Potty-pants looks angry…" came the gloating voice of Peeves. "Done any killings lately? Talked to any snakes?" He cackled maliciously. Harry looked up at the poltergeist, anger boiling through his blood stream.
"Peeves- move. Now. I am not kidding, Peeves!" Peeves laughed gleefully, doing a somersault in the air, blowing a big raspberry at Harry.
"CRUCIO! CRUCIO, CRUCIO, CRUCIO! DAMN YOU, YOU POLTERGEIST! GET OUT OF MY WAY! CRUCIO!" Peeves flinched, yelling out angrily in pain. He sent Harry a frightened glance before hurrying away. As Harry calmed down, he thought about the look of fear on Peeve's face. The Power! What if Voldemort had the right idea?
No, no, no, no, no, no, NO! Amara had the same idea. She was given a taste of power and didn't want it taken away from her. Harry had to decide if he wanted that taste… No, he couldn't. He was supposed to win this war; free everyone, not take Voldemort's place. How ridiculous. But, then again… what a force, if it was he, Voldemort, and Vega… they really could control everything; everyone. Maybe if Harry sided with Voldemort, he could make the world better… No.
Harry pushed the idea from his mind and looked around to find himself next to the lake. The water reflected the night sky. The moon was bright, and the stars twinkled happily. How could the world be so indifferent? How? The sun didn't care if people died. The stars didn't give a damn about Sirius! Harry's parents had been murdered, and the sky still twinkled! Voldemort was killing people, so many, and the sky cried tears of happiness, not sadness! The flowers bloomed to welcome the tears of the earth; those tears of joy, which preformed miracle after miracle as war raged and people suffered.
Harry collapsed onto the ground and felt a tear escape his reddening eyes. He watched it fall to the ground under the black sky. A tear of sadness, which the world didn't care about. The world just looked away! What a cruel earth! What a cold, apathetic home to live in!
After a few minutes of wallowing in grief and shedding tears for everyone who had died and was hurt or who had been scarred, either metaphysically or in flesh, Hermione found him. Her eyes were red from crying, and she looked grieved beyond words.
"Harry?" she asked softly, sitting down, and touching his shoulder.
"What?" he asked hollowly.
"Do not ever, ever again blame yourself, Harry James Potter. Without you here, it would be a thousand times worse and you damn well know it! The world might be in shambles already! It hurts us so much to see you when you close up like this, Harry! You are causing your friends and family pain when you blame yourself for these things! It is not your bloody fault. It isn't! This all is the fault of Tom Marvalo Riddle. Harry, you have so much that he doesn't. Friends, like Lavender and Tabby. Family, like Lenore, and Lupin, and Dumbledore, and the Weasleys and Evelyn and Calli, and especially Ron and I! That's what we are, Harry. Your family! Why don't you understand?"
"I- I know, 'Mione. I'm sorry, it's just- I – so much is happening, and I feel so responsible! Maybe… I don't know. But I hate this! I'm so helpless, and the world is depending on me to win this bloody war! If I don't kill Voldemort, it's my fault that everyone dies or lives in a bloody hell that I'm so conveniently removed from!"
"Harry," said Hermione, eyes brimming with tears. "The world is not depending on you. It may seem like it sometimes, but it's not. The world is depending on us. You, your family and friends, the Order… we will be with you until the bloody end, Harry! You need to fire the curse, but we will all be with you! We love you, Harry. Ron; Lenore; Ginny, even Draco loves you! I love you, Harry! And I am here until the end. You aren't pushing us out of the picture that quickly, Harry. And if you think you are, you have another thing coming. You aren't alone. You aren't alone!"
Harry swore to himself that he would never cry again. Not for anyone, for any reason. Never, ever again.
THE END
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A/N: That was it! The last chapter. I kind of sprung it on you, yes. The epilogue should be out tomorrow, and I will begin the sequel after I get about 475, preferably 500, but it doesn't have to be that many, reviews. So review! And the epilogue will be out soon.