Disclaimer: I don't own anything except for the plot.
The Second Darkness.
Chapter 9: A Plan Uncovered
Harry limped over to the over to the assassins that Lupin had bound with an anti-Apparition jinx. There was a large cut on his leg that he didn't remember getting. He glanced towards the DA who were standing around, healing each other's wounds and talking animatedly.
Harry reached the assassins and stared down at them with hatred. None of them met his eyes except one. There was a look in that one's eyes that deepened Harry's hatred of them. The assassin sneered at him. The DA fell silent when the assassin spoke,
"The great Harry Potter doesn't even have the guts to kill us. Potter, your time is near, you'll die, just like your parents did, cowering and weak." Anger boiled in him and all the hatred he had ever felt for Death Eaters rose to the surface and Harry wanted nothing more than to kill this one in cold blood.
"Oh yeah? I don't have the guts to kill you? Watch." The DA sucked in their breaths when they heard this. Harry drew his sword and took a step towards the assassins. Lupin stepped forward and put a restraining hand on Harry's arm.
"Harry don't, they're beaten."
"I don't give a damn. They've had it coming, this'll teach the bastards to piss Harry Potter off." Harry's words and tone of voice made Lupin step back, his eyes wide. Harry stepped closer to the other two assassins and slit their throats. The DA gasped. The final assassin looked up at him with fearful eyes,
"Now do you think that I have don't have the guts to kill you?" The assassin didn't say a word. Harry stared at him with hatred; he bent down and cut the ropes, "Get up." The assassin scrambled to his feet.
"What are you doing?" asked Lupin.
"Taking him to The Three Broomsticks." Lupin nodded and they began the walk back to the village.
Cho hurried up to Harry,
"You alright?" He asked her. She shrugged,
"I've been better, what about you?" Harry glared,
"I'll be a lot happier when this bastard is dead." Cho looked at him curiously,
"Why have you suddenly gone all angry?"
"I've no idea." They reached Hogsmeade and villagers and the students looked at them surprised before talking in hushed voices. Five minutes later the small group came to the pub and Harry threw open the door,
"Professor," Harry called loudly to Dumbledore, "I've come give you a Death Eater to interrogate and then after that Moody can add him to his collection." Moody smirked behind him, the pub fell silent and Dumbledore stood up slowly.
"You have one alive?"
"It was a close call, I came this close to slitting his throat," Harry held his thumb and index finger a millimetre apart, "And when you are done with him I intend to do just that, then Moody can have him." The pub froze in shock at Harry's words.
The assassin tried to look confident,
"You wouldn't dare slit my throat." Harry glared at him,
"You have just seen me kill two of your mates in cold blood and you still think that I wouldn't do it to you." Professor McGonagall stared at Harry in horror and then looked at Lupin,
"He's joking, he hasn't really killed in cold blood!"
"I'm afraid he has. Slit their throats," Lupin walked over to her and lowered his voice, "One minute he is calm and the next he is killing in cold blood." McGonagall cast another horrified look at Harry.
Harry kicked the assassin in the back of the leg, forcing the assassin to his knees,
"I hope you have a lot of useful information for us otherwise you will find yourself in a lot of pain." Harry glanced up at the rest of the pub. "Anything that he says does not leave this pub." Everyone nodded. Harry glared down at the assassin.
"Start talking." The assassin gulped.
"I will never betray my master." He stuttered.
"Then maybe this will loosen your tongue." Harry pressed his sword into the assassin's neck until a droplet of blood appeared.
"Ok...Ok...I'll talk...I'll talk." The assassin took a deep breath, "My master has got a plan, I don't know the exact details, he doesn't tell us, but from what I've heard, he has found a spell or a potion that will make him invincible not only that but he has also found a potion that will increase the power of his spells by a hundred so Avada Kedavra won't kill just one person but a hundred at a time." Harry stood stock still, horrified, this was worse than they could possibly of imagined. The screams of fear from the rest of the pub echoed dimly in his ears.
"You're not serious!" Harry's voice didn't sound like his own somehow, he could think of nothing else but; if Voldemort pulls this off then he's won. Harry sat down heavily on a chair. He thought for a minute and then a smile slowly formed on his face as he thought of a plan, it was a long shot, but it might just work, he thought to himself.
He stood up and looked at the assassin.
"You're going to deliver a message for me." The assassin looked wary,
"What message?"
"You're going to tell Voldemort that I know what he is up to, you're going to tell him that I am sick of having to put my friends into danger, tell him that his Death Eaters can expect mercy from people like Lupin or Dumbledore but they aren't going to get any from me. Finally tell him that Harry Potter is going to enjoy sending him to hell." The assassin looked terrified,
"I'm not telling him that!" The sword dug deeper into the assassin's neck,
"Sure?"
"Ok, ok!" Harry lifted the anti-Apparition jinx and the assassin disappeared. Harry looked up and saw the entire pub staring at him in awe.
"What?" Ron recovered quickly,
"What's gotten into you, mate?" Harry laughed, but it wasn't a pleasant laugh but a laugh that chilled their bones,
"I told you, I'm tired of putting my friends in danger." And with that Harry turned and swept out of the pub leaving an astonished silence in his wake.
******
The next few days passed without incident and then suddenly Harry was called to the Headmasters office along with Ron and Hermione completely out of the blue. They arrived there to see all the teachers along with the prominent members of the Order.
"I am not going to waste time with the pleasantries, I will get straight to business. You all know what the assassin told us in the Three Broomsticks. We all knew about Voldemort's plot to make himself immortal but this is much worse. By increasing his power he could take over the world. The time has come to organise a plan, this has to be stopped at all costs. Does anyone have any ideas?" It came as a complete when Harry spoke up immediately. Everyone was momentarily frozen with shock but recovered.
"Well? What is it?" McGonagall asked urgently. Harry smiled wryly,
"Suicide."
"What?" said McGonagall, taken aback.
"Suicide. Here's what we need to do. Find out where Voldemort is hiding and get the book about the potions. The potions are obviously rare potions otherwise he would have come across them sooner. I reckon they will both be in one book. Get to where Voldemort is hiding, steal the book and get out. Voldemort won't be anywhere obvious though, or anywhere that's not easily defended. This is going to require a lot of people. I think this will end up being a full-frontal assault on somewhere that is easy to defend and virtually impossible to get into."
Ron looked aghast,
"That is suicide!" Harry turned and glared at him,
"Have you got any better ideas?" he snapped. Ron looked even more taken aback.
"No." Something clicked in Harry's mind; he turned to Snape eagerly,
"Professor, you know where Voldemort is hiding, you've been there, where is it?" Snape shook his head sadly, his usual sneer completely gone from his face,
"He doesn't let us outside, apart from the guards on the walls, but I can tell you this. It is a castle with strong walls on top of a high hill." Harry's spirits fell. This was exactly what he had expected. However, Hermione was one step ahead of Harry.
"If you've never been outside, how do you know it is on a high hill."
"I've heard the guards talking; they say things like 'the forest below looks even darker tonight.'" Harry smiled slightly.
"At least we don't have to worry about where we Apparate or portkey to, we just Apparate or portkey into the forest." Dumbledore sighed and spread his hands on his desk.
"I don't like it but it is the only plan we've got so we'll have to go with it. Dismissed." Harry, Ron and Hermione left with the rest of the adults who were talking in low, fast voices, no doubt worried about what they heard.
Harry was just about to turn down a corridor leading to the marble staircase when a hand shot out and grabbed him. Harry turned round in astonishment and saw that it was Hermione who had grabbed him. She began pulling him down a different corridor.
Harry looked into her eyes, tears were forming there and the fear was obvious in them,
"What?" he asked. Hermione shook her head,
"Did you honestly think that I, a bookworm as Ron puts it, don't know what a full-frontal attack will result in?" Harry sighed,
"No, I didn't think you would know. I didn't think you would read books like that." Hermione glared at him,
"Harry you know as well as I do that a full-frontal assault on a fortified, defensive position is suicide and yet you still think we should do it." Hermione was speaking in a hushed, angry voice. Something snapped in Harry and he grew angry aswell.
"You think this is not making me feel guilty as hell, being the person responsible for the deaths of thousands of other people? I know that half the people who go there will never return, but it has to be done. Otherwise Voldemort will become invincible and for the rest of eternity the wizarding world will live in fear. Do you know what eternity means? It means forever, it means there is no end. Sometimes sacrifices have to be made. And believe me, I am being eaten up by guilt at having to be the one who makes them." They were arguing passionately in hushed voices.
"Besides," continued Harry, "This isn't just about getting the book. Even if we fail we show Voldemort we know what he's up to, we show Voldemort we know where he is hiding and finally we show Voldemort that we are willing to go to any ends to defeat him."
"Oh great, that makes it so much better. Thousands of witches and wizards die to tell Voldemort we know where he's hiding. Harry you are going to sentence your friends to death to tell Voldemort that we know where he is hiding."
"Hermione you and the DA don't have to go. You know I would never force you to." Hermione shook her head impatiently,
"Harry you know we would follow you to the ends of the earth." Harry flashed a grin at her.
"Hopefully just to wherever Voldemort's hiding will do." Hermione laughed,
"I'm just arguing because I'm worried." She explained. Harry's grin broadened,
"I know, sometimes you can be so like Ron it's unnerving." Hermione hit him on the shoulder, "I just don't know why you don't just go and snog him senseless, a: It would shut him up, b: It would sort everything out, c: It would stop you two driving me insane trying to get you together." Hermione stood there looking stunned,
"Harry Potter, you are going to get it." Harry was doubled over laughing so he couldn't move.
"Admit it, you want to snog him senseless."
"NO! No. I don't know. Maybe. Yes." Harry looked gleeful.
"Just go and do it. He wants you to you know." Hermione looked doubtful; Harry sighed and decided to give up.
"Alright, I'll leave you here to continue thinking that I'm lying, even when I can't possibly make it any clearer that I'm not and I will go and find someone who believes me." Harry turned and left.
Harry walked in the direction of the Ravenclaw common room; it was only when he arrived outside it that he realised he didn't know the password. He stood there wondering what to do when, fortunately, the portrait began to swing open.
Out stepped a fifth year and, upon seeing Harry, raised her eyebrows. Harry grinned sheepishly. She turned round and called into the Ravenclaw common room,
"Cho."
"Yeah?"
"Someone's here to see you."
"Harry?"
"Good guess." A minute later Cho appeared at the Portrait Hole.
"Hey Cho, I was wondering if you wanted to go for a walk."
"Ok." Cho put her hand on the crook of his elbow and Harry felt the familiar tingling sensation at her touch. They began walking towards the double doors that led out into the grounds.
They walked out into the grounds and simply enjoyed being in each other's company. In mid-spring Hogwarts grounds were even more stunning, the trees and the flowers were blooming and pinks, whites and reds were everywhere. Cho cast a sidelong glance at Harry,
"How are you now? You were furious after that fight." Harry sighed,
"I'm ok, but what that assassin said, it brought back a lot of painful thoughts." Cho risked the question she knew she shouldn't ask.
"Like what?" Harry sighed again, deeper this time. He trusted Cho but this was a topic he didn't want to talk about.
"He insulted my parents. I've been trying not to think about my parents...personal reasons." Harry's mind wandered back to what he had seen in Snape's pensieve. If what he had seen was anything to go by then James wasn't a man to idolise. He was a conceited, arrogant prat. Not thinking about them made that knowledge easier to handle, but still, when someone insulted them, it just made it worse. And now, knowing that in a few weeks he would be responsible for the deaths of thousands of witches and wizards. He just didn't want to handle life.
He was snapped back to reality by the feeling of Cho's lips on his.
"Whatever it is don't worry about it, you don't have to do it alone." Said Cho when they drew apart. Harry smiled sadly at her.
"That's sweet of you to say Cho but I'm afraid it is something I have to handle alone." Cho kissed him again,
"Then you won't be all alone in doing it. We'll all be here to help you where we can." Harry smiled at her,
"I love you, Cho."
"I love you too." They headed over to the lake. They stood there, Harry standing behind her with his arms encircled around her waist protectively. She leaned back and he was comforted by her familiar weight.
They stood there saying nothing, not needing to say anything, watching the sunset, the dying sun casting an orange glow over the lake. For once in his life Harry was perfectly content with the world.
He moved his head round and captured her lips in a passionate kiss. She was surprised at first, but snaked her arm around his neck and kissed him back eagerly. A few minutes later they pulled apart breathlessly.
"We should be getting back." Said Harry. Cho grinned at him.
"A few more minutes won't hurt."
"No but," Harry murmured, already closing his eyes and leaning towards her, "We should still..."
******
Hermione and Ron waited patiently for Harry to return. They were just about to give up and go to bed when the Portrait Hole swung open and in walked Harry, grinning broadly.
"Where have you been?" asked Ron sarcastically, "Oh wait! No need to tell me, I can guess."
"Hi guys, snogged yet?" Ron and Hermione blushed slightly and several second-years began sniggering. Ginny looked up from the essay she was writing and shook her head exasperated.
"Harry, give it up mate, nothing is going to happen." Said Ron slightly annoyed. Harry rubbed his chin thoughtfully,
"Maybe I'm getting somewhere; you're actually talking about it. You know, Hermione was telling me something earlier that you might find quite interesting, Ron. She was telling me," at this point Hermione was shaking her head furiously at him, begging him not to tell him." Harry moved closer to her.
"Don't forget about our deal. The longer you take, the more I embarrass you." Harry stepped back after saying that, "Hermione said that she would like to 'snog you senseless.'" Hermione and Ron turned identical shades of red, turned and sprinted into their respective dormitories leaving the laughter of the common room behind them. Ginny looked up from her essay,
"That was harsh, Harry." Harry shrugged, he had warned them and they hadn't heeded it. Sighing Ginny stood up, walked over to him and dragged him out of the common room. Once out of there she turned on him angrily,
"What are you playing at?" Harry shrugged again.
"I warned them, I told them that I would embarrass them if I needed to."
"Oh yeah? And you think that embarrassing the hell out of them will make them suddenly desperate to go out with each other? Harry you acted like a complete prat back there!" Harry grew angry as well,
"Do you honestly think I give a damn how I acted? I am sick to death of seeing them sneak glances at each other when they think no one else is watching. I am sick to death of them moping around, feeling sorry for themselves when we can't make it clearer that they both fancy each other stupid! Maybe it won't make them desperate to go out with each other but it will show them that I mean business." And with that Harry turned and started walking back towards the common room.
"Harry." Said Ginny exasperated without turning around, Harry stopped, "Listen, as much as we would like the to get on with it, this is annoying me too, sometimes we just have to let a river flow it's natural course otherwise it could have disastrous effects if we try to alter it." Harry sighed.
"Ok, I'll trust you. But just this once."
"Good." Ginny came up to him and kissed him on the cheek, "I'll see you tomorrow Harry."
"Yeah, see ya." Harry stood outside the common room for a few more minutes before sighing and walking back into the common room.
******
Harry swung his sword in a downward arc. Lupin brought his sword up and blocked it. Harry swung his sword round to the right, again Lupin blocked it.
"It's strange." Said Harry stepping back to avoid Lupin's lunge and then counter lunging.
"What is?"
"All the Death Eaters I've faced haven't been overly difficult to beat." Lupin snorted.
"Yeah right, apart from the one that nearly killed you when you allowed him to stab you." Harry raised his eyebrows as he parried one of Lupin's swings,
"You heard about that?"
"Oh yeah. Loads of people heard about it. Dumbledore had to pull a lot of strings to stop The Prophet printing it." Harry swore silently.
"Great, just what I needed, everyone to know about that." Lupin laughed.
"I tell you why they haven't been particularly difficult, Voldemort's been testing you, getting to know your strengths and weaknesses. Although that last lot were better. I think that now that he knows you are good at fighting he is going to be sending better Death Eaters at you." Harry nodded, it made sense. They continued practising for a few more minutes before Lupin decided to call it a day.
"You've done well today. I will see you tomorrow." Harry nodded.
"Bye Lupin." Harry walked off towards the castle, there was just enough time to have a quick shower before the DA meeting.
At five to eight Harry was sprinting down the corridor towards the Room of Requirement. After passing the place where the door was three times it finally appeared and he threw it open. Twenty faces looked up at him eagerly.
"Before I say anything else I just want to say well done in the fight the other day. You did well and I'm proud of you. The DA's undefeated record stands firm."
"Even if that was only our second fight." Ron spoke up grinning, obviously Harry's teasing hadn't come between their friendship. Harry winked at him,
"Got to start somewhere, Ron." Ron laughed loudly.
"True."
"Right, let's get down to business."
Before long the DA would need every spell they knew and every ounce of courage they could muster.
Voldemort was in for a hell of a fight.
A/N Ok, I'm really sorry that this has taken so long to update, Malaysia, school, life, everything has just been on top of me lately so I have not been able to get much written.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter, the next one should be out in about a weeks time.
Thank you very much for all your patience, it means a lot to me.
Anime-Master7 – Thanks for the review.
Colm – Don't worry, it will be.
LogicalRaven – Where have you gone, my friend? I need your advice on this fic.
Keep reading and reviewing 'cos I'll keep writing.
Fireboy
The Second Darkness.
Chapter 9: A Plan Uncovered
Harry limped over to the over to the assassins that Lupin had bound with an anti-Apparition jinx. There was a large cut on his leg that he didn't remember getting. He glanced towards the DA who were standing around, healing each other's wounds and talking animatedly.
Harry reached the assassins and stared down at them with hatred. None of them met his eyes except one. There was a look in that one's eyes that deepened Harry's hatred of them. The assassin sneered at him. The DA fell silent when the assassin spoke,
"The great Harry Potter doesn't even have the guts to kill us. Potter, your time is near, you'll die, just like your parents did, cowering and weak." Anger boiled in him and all the hatred he had ever felt for Death Eaters rose to the surface and Harry wanted nothing more than to kill this one in cold blood.
"Oh yeah? I don't have the guts to kill you? Watch." The DA sucked in their breaths when they heard this. Harry drew his sword and took a step towards the assassins. Lupin stepped forward and put a restraining hand on Harry's arm.
"Harry don't, they're beaten."
"I don't give a damn. They've had it coming, this'll teach the bastards to piss Harry Potter off." Harry's words and tone of voice made Lupin step back, his eyes wide. Harry stepped closer to the other two assassins and slit their throats. The DA gasped. The final assassin looked up at him with fearful eyes,
"Now do you think that I have don't have the guts to kill you?" The assassin didn't say a word. Harry stared at him with hatred; he bent down and cut the ropes, "Get up." The assassin scrambled to his feet.
"What are you doing?" asked Lupin.
"Taking him to The Three Broomsticks." Lupin nodded and they began the walk back to the village.
Cho hurried up to Harry,
"You alright?" He asked her. She shrugged,
"I've been better, what about you?" Harry glared,
"I'll be a lot happier when this bastard is dead." Cho looked at him curiously,
"Why have you suddenly gone all angry?"
"I've no idea." They reached Hogsmeade and villagers and the students looked at them surprised before talking in hushed voices. Five minutes later the small group came to the pub and Harry threw open the door,
"Professor," Harry called loudly to Dumbledore, "I've come give you a Death Eater to interrogate and then after that Moody can add him to his collection." Moody smirked behind him, the pub fell silent and Dumbledore stood up slowly.
"You have one alive?"
"It was a close call, I came this close to slitting his throat," Harry held his thumb and index finger a millimetre apart, "And when you are done with him I intend to do just that, then Moody can have him." The pub froze in shock at Harry's words.
The assassin tried to look confident,
"You wouldn't dare slit my throat." Harry glared at him,
"You have just seen me kill two of your mates in cold blood and you still think that I wouldn't do it to you." Professor McGonagall stared at Harry in horror and then looked at Lupin,
"He's joking, he hasn't really killed in cold blood!"
"I'm afraid he has. Slit their throats," Lupin walked over to her and lowered his voice, "One minute he is calm and the next he is killing in cold blood." McGonagall cast another horrified look at Harry.
Harry kicked the assassin in the back of the leg, forcing the assassin to his knees,
"I hope you have a lot of useful information for us otherwise you will find yourself in a lot of pain." Harry glanced up at the rest of the pub. "Anything that he says does not leave this pub." Everyone nodded. Harry glared down at the assassin.
"Start talking." The assassin gulped.
"I will never betray my master." He stuttered.
"Then maybe this will loosen your tongue." Harry pressed his sword into the assassin's neck until a droplet of blood appeared.
"Ok...Ok...I'll talk...I'll talk." The assassin took a deep breath, "My master has got a plan, I don't know the exact details, he doesn't tell us, but from what I've heard, he has found a spell or a potion that will make him invincible not only that but he has also found a potion that will increase the power of his spells by a hundred so Avada Kedavra won't kill just one person but a hundred at a time." Harry stood stock still, horrified, this was worse than they could possibly of imagined. The screams of fear from the rest of the pub echoed dimly in his ears.
"You're not serious!" Harry's voice didn't sound like his own somehow, he could think of nothing else but; if Voldemort pulls this off then he's won. Harry sat down heavily on a chair. He thought for a minute and then a smile slowly formed on his face as he thought of a plan, it was a long shot, but it might just work, he thought to himself.
He stood up and looked at the assassin.
"You're going to deliver a message for me." The assassin looked wary,
"What message?"
"You're going to tell Voldemort that I know what he is up to, you're going to tell him that I am sick of having to put my friends into danger, tell him that his Death Eaters can expect mercy from people like Lupin or Dumbledore but they aren't going to get any from me. Finally tell him that Harry Potter is going to enjoy sending him to hell." The assassin looked terrified,
"I'm not telling him that!" The sword dug deeper into the assassin's neck,
"Sure?"
"Ok, ok!" Harry lifted the anti-Apparition jinx and the assassin disappeared. Harry looked up and saw the entire pub staring at him in awe.
"What?" Ron recovered quickly,
"What's gotten into you, mate?" Harry laughed, but it wasn't a pleasant laugh but a laugh that chilled their bones,
"I told you, I'm tired of putting my friends in danger." And with that Harry turned and swept out of the pub leaving an astonished silence in his wake.
******
The next few days passed without incident and then suddenly Harry was called to the Headmasters office along with Ron and Hermione completely out of the blue. They arrived there to see all the teachers along with the prominent members of the Order.
"I am not going to waste time with the pleasantries, I will get straight to business. You all know what the assassin told us in the Three Broomsticks. We all knew about Voldemort's plot to make himself immortal but this is much worse. By increasing his power he could take over the world. The time has come to organise a plan, this has to be stopped at all costs. Does anyone have any ideas?" It came as a complete when Harry spoke up immediately. Everyone was momentarily frozen with shock but recovered.
"Well? What is it?" McGonagall asked urgently. Harry smiled wryly,
"Suicide."
"What?" said McGonagall, taken aback.
"Suicide. Here's what we need to do. Find out where Voldemort is hiding and get the book about the potions. The potions are obviously rare potions otherwise he would have come across them sooner. I reckon they will both be in one book. Get to where Voldemort is hiding, steal the book and get out. Voldemort won't be anywhere obvious though, or anywhere that's not easily defended. This is going to require a lot of people. I think this will end up being a full-frontal assault on somewhere that is easy to defend and virtually impossible to get into."
Ron looked aghast,
"That is suicide!" Harry turned and glared at him,
"Have you got any better ideas?" he snapped. Ron looked even more taken aback.
"No." Something clicked in Harry's mind; he turned to Snape eagerly,
"Professor, you know where Voldemort is hiding, you've been there, where is it?" Snape shook his head sadly, his usual sneer completely gone from his face,
"He doesn't let us outside, apart from the guards on the walls, but I can tell you this. It is a castle with strong walls on top of a high hill." Harry's spirits fell. This was exactly what he had expected. However, Hermione was one step ahead of Harry.
"If you've never been outside, how do you know it is on a high hill."
"I've heard the guards talking; they say things like 'the forest below looks even darker tonight.'" Harry smiled slightly.
"At least we don't have to worry about where we Apparate or portkey to, we just Apparate or portkey into the forest." Dumbledore sighed and spread his hands on his desk.
"I don't like it but it is the only plan we've got so we'll have to go with it. Dismissed." Harry, Ron and Hermione left with the rest of the adults who were talking in low, fast voices, no doubt worried about what they heard.
Harry was just about to turn down a corridor leading to the marble staircase when a hand shot out and grabbed him. Harry turned round in astonishment and saw that it was Hermione who had grabbed him. She began pulling him down a different corridor.
Harry looked into her eyes, tears were forming there and the fear was obvious in them,
"What?" he asked. Hermione shook her head,
"Did you honestly think that I, a bookworm as Ron puts it, don't know what a full-frontal attack will result in?" Harry sighed,
"No, I didn't think you would know. I didn't think you would read books like that." Hermione glared at him,
"Harry you know as well as I do that a full-frontal assault on a fortified, defensive position is suicide and yet you still think we should do it." Hermione was speaking in a hushed, angry voice. Something snapped in Harry and he grew angry aswell.
"You think this is not making me feel guilty as hell, being the person responsible for the deaths of thousands of other people? I know that half the people who go there will never return, but it has to be done. Otherwise Voldemort will become invincible and for the rest of eternity the wizarding world will live in fear. Do you know what eternity means? It means forever, it means there is no end. Sometimes sacrifices have to be made. And believe me, I am being eaten up by guilt at having to be the one who makes them." They were arguing passionately in hushed voices.
"Besides," continued Harry, "This isn't just about getting the book. Even if we fail we show Voldemort we know what he's up to, we show Voldemort we know where he is hiding and finally we show Voldemort that we are willing to go to any ends to defeat him."
"Oh great, that makes it so much better. Thousands of witches and wizards die to tell Voldemort we know where he's hiding. Harry you are going to sentence your friends to death to tell Voldemort that we know where he is hiding."
"Hermione you and the DA don't have to go. You know I would never force you to." Hermione shook her head impatiently,
"Harry you know we would follow you to the ends of the earth." Harry flashed a grin at her.
"Hopefully just to wherever Voldemort's hiding will do." Hermione laughed,
"I'm just arguing because I'm worried." She explained. Harry's grin broadened,
"I know, sometimes you can be so like Ron it's unnerving." Hermione hit him on the shoulder, "I just don't know why you don't just go and snog him senseless, a: It would shut him up, b: It would sort everything out, c: It would stop you two driving me insane trying to get you together." Hermione stood there looking stunned,
"Harry Potter, you are going to get it." Harry was doubled over laughing so he couldn't move.
"Admit it, you want to snog him senseless."
"NO! No. I don't know. Maybe. Yes." Harry looked gleeful.
"Just go and do it. He wants you to you know." Hermione looked doubtful; Harry sighed and decided to give up.
"Alright, I'll leave you here to continue thinking that I'm lying, even when I can't possibly make it any clearer that I'm not and I will go and find someone who believes me." Harry turned and left.
Harry walked in the direction of the Ravenclaw common room; it was only when he arrived outside it that he realised he didn't know the password. He stood there wondering what to do when, fortunately, the portrait began to swing open.
Out stepped a fifth year and, upon seeing Harry, raised her eyebrows. Harry grinned sheepishly. She turned round and called into the Ravenclaw common room,
"Cho."
"Yeah?"
"Someone's here to see you."
"Harry?"
"Good guess." A minute later Cho appeared at the Portrait Hole.
"Hey Cho, I was wondering if you wanted to go for a walk."
"Ok." Cho put her hand on the crook of his elbow and Harry felt the familiar tingling sensation at her touch. They began walking towards the double doors that led out into the grounds.
They walked out into the grounds and simply enjoyed being in each other's company. In mid-spring Hogwarts grounds were even more stunning, the trees and the flowers were blooming and pinks, whites and reds were everywhere. Cho cast a sidelong glance at Harry,
"How are you now? You were furious after that fight." Harry sighed,
"I'm ok, but what that assassin said, it brought back a lot of painful thoughts." Cho risked the question she knew she shouldn't ask.
"Like what?" Harry sighed again, deeper this time. He trusted Cho but this was a topic he didn't want to talk about.
"He insulted my parents. I've been trying not to think about my parents...personal reasons." Harry's mind wandered back to what he had seen in Snape's pensieve. If what he had seen was anything to go by then James wasn't a man to idolise. He was a conceited, arrogant prat. Not thinking about them made that knowledge easier to handle, but still, when someone insulted them, it just made it worse. And now, knowing that in a few weeks he would be responsible for the deaths of thousands of witches and wizards. He just didn't want to handle life.
He was snapped back to reality by the feeling of Cho's lips on his.
"Whatever it is don't worry about it, you don't have to do it alone." Said Cho when they drew apart. Harry smiled sadly at her.
"That's sweet of you to say Cho but I'm afraid it is something I have to handle alone." Cho kissed him again,
"Then you won't be all alone in doing it. We'll all be here to help you where we can." Harry smiled at her,
"I love you, Cho."
"I love you too." They headed over to the lake. They stood there, Harry standing behind her with his arms encircled around her waist protectively. She leaned back and he was comforted by her familiar weight.
They stood there saying nothing, not needing to say anything, watching the sunset, the dying sun casting an orange glow over the lake. For once in his life Harry was perfectly content with the world.
He moved his head round and captured her lips in a passionate kiss. She was surprised at first, but snaked her arm around his neck and kissed him back eagerly. A few minutes later they pulled apart breathlessly.
"We should be getting back." Said Harry. Cho grinned at him.
"A few more minutes won't hurt."
"No but," Harry murmured, already closing his eyes and leaning towards her, "We should still..."
******
Hermione and Ron waited patiently for Harry to return. They were just about to give up and go to bed when the Portrait Hole swung open and in walked Harry, grinning broadly.
"Where have you been?" asked Ron sarcastically, "Oh wait! No need to tell me, I can guess."
"Hi guys, snogged yet?" Ron and Hermione blushed slightly and several second-years began sniggering. Ginny looked up from the essay she was writing and shook her head exasperated.
"Harry, give it up mate, nothing is going to happen." Said Ron slightly annoyed. Harry rubbed his chin thoughtfully,
"Maybe I'm getting somewhere; you're actually talking about it. You know, Hermione was telling me something earlier that you might find quite interesting, Ron. She was telling me," at this point Hermione was shaking her head furiously at him, begging him not to tell him." Harry moved closer to her.
"Don't forget about our deal. The longer you take, the more I embarrass you." Harry stepped back after saying that, "Hermione said that she would like to 'snog you senseless.'" Hermione and Ron turned identical shades of red, turned and sprinted into their respective dormitories leaving the laughter of the common room behind them. Ginny looked up from her essay,
"That was harsh, Harry." Harry shrugged, he had warned them and they hadn't heeded it. Sighing Ginny stood up, walked over to him and dragged him out of the common room. Once out of there she turned on him angrily,
"What are you playing at?" Harry shrugged again.
"I warned them, I told them that I would embarrass them if I needed to."
"Oh yeah? And you think that embarrassing the hell out of them will make them suddenly desperate to go out with each other? Harry you acted like a complete prat back there!" Harry grew angry as well,
"Do you honestly think I give a damn how I acted? I am sick to death of seeing them sneak glances at each other when they think no one else is watching. I am sick to death of them moping around, feeling sorry for themselves when we can't make it clearer that they both fancy each other stupid! Maybe it won't make them desperate to go out with each other but it will show them that I mean business." And with that Harry turned and started walking back towards the common room.
"Harry." Said Ginny exasperated without turning around, Harry stopped, "Listen, as much as we would like the to get on with it, this is annoying me too, sometimes we just have to let a river flow it's natural course otherwise it could have disastrous effects if we try to alter it." Harry sighed.
"Ok, I'll trust you. But just this once."
"Good." Ginny came up to him and kissed him on the cheek, "I'll see you tomorrow Harry."
"Yeah, see ya." Harry stood outside the common room for a few more minutes before sighing and walking back into the common room.
******
Harry swung his sword in a downward arc. Lupin brought his sword up and blocked it. Harry swung his sword round to the right, again Lupin blocked it.
"It's strange." Said Harry stepping back to avoid Lupin's lunge and then counter lunging.
"What is?"
"All the Death Eaters I've faced haven't been overly difficult to beat." Lupin snorted.
"Yeah right, apart from the one that nearly killed you when you allowed him to stab you." Harry raised his eyebrows as he parried one of Lupin's swings,
"You heard about that?"
"Oh yeah. Loads of people heard about it. Dumbledore had to pull a lot of strings to stop The Prophet printing it." Harry swore silently.
"Great, just what I needed, everyone to know about that." Lupin laughed.
"I tell you why they haven't been particularly difficult, Voldemort's been testing you, getting to know your strengths and weaknesses. Although that last lot were better. I think that now that he knows you are good at fighting he is going to be sending better Death Eaters at you." Harry nodded, it made sense. They continued practising for a few more minutes before Lupin decided to call it a day.
"You've done well today. I will see you tomorrow." Harry nodded.
"Bye Lupin." Harry walked off towards the castle, there was just enough time to have a quick shower before the DA meeting.
At five to eight Harry was sprinting down the corridor towards the Room of Requirement. After passing the place where the door was three times it finally appeared and he threw it open. Twenty faces looked up at him eagerly.
"Before I say anything else I just want to say well done in the fight the other day. You did well and I'm proud of you. The DA's undefeated record stands firm."
"Even if that was only our second fight." Ron spoke up grinning, obviously Harry's teasing hadn't come between their friendship. Harry winked at him,
"Got to start somewhere, Ron." Ron laughed loudly.
"True."
"Right, let's get down to business."
Before long the DA would need every spell they knew and every ounce of courage they could muster.
Voldemort was in for a hell of a fight.
A/N Ok, I'm really sorry that this has taken so long to update, Malaysia, school, life, everything has just been on top of me lately so I have not been able to get much written.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter, the next one should be out in about a weeks time.
Thank you very much for all your patience, it means a lot to me.
Anime-Master7 – Thanks for the review.
Colm – Don't worry, it will be.
LogicalRaven – Where have you gone, my friend? I need your advice on this fic.
Keep reading and reviewing 'cos I'll keep writing.
Fireboy