Chapter 9: Another Day

There's only us, there's only this. Forget regret, or life is yours to miss. No other road, no other way. No day but today.

Forty-seven missing wizards accounted for:

Army of Aurors said to be our heros

Throughout the year, since He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's return was publically announced by the Ministry, wizards and witches have been disappearing left and right. Yesterday, two students of Hogwarts broke away from the throng of adolescents making their way to Hogsmeade Station and instead went to explore an old alley where they discovered that their friend– and about forty-six other missing persons– were being held captive.

The names of these two daring adolescents? Hermione Granger and, our one and only teenage hero, Harry Potter himself.

On the verge of being killed, Harry and Ms. Granger were rescued by no other than Albus Dumbledore himself. Dumbledore was accompanied by an army of Aurors, including one renowned and retired Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody and the rising young Auror, Nymphadora Tonks. They were joined by gallant Ministry members (such as Kingsly Shacklebolt and Emmeline Vance) and even old staff members of Hogwarts (Remus Lupin).

Among those rescued was the personal secretary of Cornelius Fudge, Meredith Waters, discovered to be on the brink of death. The daughter of the French Minister of Magic was also discovered, as well as plenty of other close friends of Ministers around the world.

Of course, the youngest victim saved was sixteen-year-old Ronald Weasley, who was said to be catatonic when found. Weasley is said to be on the road to recovery at Hogwart's Medical Ward and is expected to be recognized by Dumbledore for his efforts.

As to who was behind the kidnappings, the Ministry is not commenting, although it is speculated that it is none other than He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. No information to support this theory has yet been released.

---

"Would you look at that?" Hermione exclaimed. "It seems as though you're the only person who's on a first name basis with the wizarding public, Harry."

Harry smiled wanly. "Yeah, but I think I was only mentioned once. That's gotta be a record."

"That's just because so many people were involved," Hermione explained. "And they have a limit as to how much they can write. They wanted to write more focusing on you, but I think they'd rather save that for the Quibbler."

Harry turned to the other hospital bed to see that his friend's back was to him.

"I just think that Ron could give a better story..." he said. He then turned to Hermione and smiled at her. "By the way, I never got to thank you."

"For what?" Hermione frowned, confused. Harry laughed and shook his head.

"For saving my life, of course!" he said. "Thanks."

"I didn't do anything special," Hermione said, modestly. "It's a simple curse these days and..."

"Not just that," Harry said. "You also came with me. If you hadn't have come, you know I would have charged in there, thinking myself a match for a team of Death Eaters. Dumbledore wouldn't have showed up either. Hermione, admit it. I may be good as far as mental magic goes, but it seems my common sense has taken a turn for the worse ever since I started my training. I've been thinking, maybe you and Ron are right, maybe I should tune it done a bit."

Hermione looked down at her bed sheets, then back up at Harry.

"Even I have to admit it, Harry," she said. "It was your mental magic that first realized Ron was gone. And it was your mental magic that brought him back. You can't forget that."

"Of course not," Harry replied. "I'm not saying I should stop all together. Just... start remembering that I have homework every once in a while."

Hermione smiled and Harry was glad to see her do so.

Harry leaned back in his chair by Ron's bed. Madam Pomfrey had released Hermione from her care earlier that day, but she had refused to leave Ron's side.

"The reason you were here in the first place was exhaustion," Harry said.

"Don't forget the nasty gash I got on my head from that explosion," Hermione added.

"Yeah, but you need sleep. Good, long, healthy sleep in your own bed in Gryffindor. That magic you used– it drained you. A lot." He smiled at Hermione. "You've gotten stronger. It takes a lot of power to keep a door closed against armies of spells trying to shoot it down. It might have killed you."

Harry waited to see how heavy his words would weigh on Hermione's mind. He remembered when he'd first realized what the words 'it might have killed you' really meant. It meant that he was lucky. It meant that he escaped with only a sample of what could have been. And it meant, he thought to himself, that I might not have been able to be here today to warn Hermione of the danger a battle with Death Eaters really holds.

"I know that..." Hermione said, slowly, looking down.

"Do you?" Harry asked. "For the longest time I heard the words but never understood their meaning. Killed. Me? I'm just a kid. Kids die, Hermione. Look at Cedric."

"I know!" Hermione snapped, glaring at him angrily. "You think I don't get it, Harry. Why do you always patronize us? We know what it means to put our selves in danger, to actually risk death. Ron and I, we both understand the circumstances. But you think that would scare us away from helping you? If anything, it would encourage us." Hermione paused as Harry watched her with mild surprise, mouth half open.

"I don't want you to die, Harry..." she whispered with a slight whimper. She turned away from him and watched the moon outside the window. "And I don't think Ron does either."

Harry coughed. "That was, um, well-said, Hermione." Hermione smiled at him and looked at Ron.

"Maybe you're right," she said with a smile. "Maybe I should go back to the tower and sleep the week away."

"December twenty-third," Harry reminded her. She blinked.

"Has it really been three days?" she asked.

"You woke up briefly to read the news," he said with a curt laugh. "And do your homework for the vacation. You went to sleep promptly afterwards."

Hermione let out a long sigh and laughed at herself. "That does sound like me, doesn't it?"

"Don't worry," Harry told her. "Ron's been asleep just as long."

"At least he's sleeping," Hermione said, reassuringly. "Safe. Finally."

She stood up and looked from Ron to Harry, with a genuine smile. She leaned in close to Harry's ear, "I'll let you two be," she whispered, and left.

Harry looked at the sleeping form in front of him.

"It's over, Ron," he uttered, quietly. "It's all done. You're home.

"You were great. Really, you did better than I ever could. I can't believe you lasted as long as you did. They tell me that experienced Aurors could barely stand what you went through. And hell, Ron, you're just... You're more than a kid. I... you are... I love you, Ron."

He sighed, involuntarily. "Your parents are on their way, with Ginny, of course. And the twins, too, they're coming. And Bill and Charlie. And even Percy. They're all coming for you, Ron, all for you. We're all so proud of you."

Ron seemed to shift in his sleep.

"They'll be here tomorrow morning. I just hope you can be up by then. They'd love to see you, awake, talking, smiling. I talk too much, don't I?"

"Yes, if I may say so, you do."

Harry turned at the familiar voice to see a jaded old man still strong in spirit.

"Professor Dumbledore," Harry said with a light nod. "What are you doing here at this hour?"

"I'm here to talk to Madam Pomfrey about a wrick in my neck. More importantly, what are you doing here?" Dumbledore walked over to Ron's bed and sat down next to Harry.

"Talking," Harry sighed. "To myself."

"Oh, I'm sure you're doing more than that," said Dumbledore with a light smile. "I recently received a letter from Andrew Greggo informing me that it was he, with some help from Lawrence Carter, who produced the vital evidence that led to your little adventure. I suppose he wanted some credit?"

Harry laughed. "They found a picture. With me and Hermione, the twins and... And even Sirius. Ron carried that picture with him everywhere. When Andrew told Ginny and I where it had been, I vaguely remembered the area, but I needed them to help. They told me, in great detail where to find it."

Dumbledore nodded. "They will get the credit that is due, and I'm sure Mr. Greggo will be ecstatic to receive it. But you and Hermione were quite brave. Although, your reckless disregard for the proper order of procedures has been demonstrated once again."

"Hermione owled you, Professor," Harry protested. "We contacted you."

Dumbledore laughed. "Harry, there is no need to get defensive. You've grown to be wise, the three of you, and strong individuals. That was clever thinking on Hermione's part. The owl was bewitched to know its way home, which is how we found you."

"That was clever on her part," Harry admitted. "I didn't know the extent of the spell. Only that it was over at midnight."

Dumbledore was quiet a moment as he watched Ron sleep. "Ron's lucky to have you and Hermione as friends."

"Believe me, Sir," said Harry. "We're lucky to have him."

"I know he'd appreciate to hear you say that," Dumbledore smiled softly. "Isn't that so, Ron?"

Ron stirred and turned to look at the headmaster, his expression sheepish. Harry was agape.

"You're awake?" Harry cried. Ron gave a small shrug.

"Have been a while now," he admitted. He then looked at Dumbledore. "But you knew that, didn't you, Professor?"

Harry turned and stared at Dumbledore, dumbstruck. Dumbledore chuckled. "Happy Christmas, you two," Dumbledore said. "And I hope you can join us for Christmas dinner."

As Dumbledore left Harry and Ron looked at each other a long time.

"Did you mean it?" Ron asked.

"Mean what?"

"All that you said to me." Ron then grinned at Harry. "You said you loved me."

Harry scoffed. "I never said that."

"You did," said Ron. "Yes, I distinctly heard you say–"

"I think you've been away in the dark for too long," Harry interrupted. But Ron was still grinning.

"I love you too, Harry," he said. "You're my role model, sympathizer, and best friend. You're my brother, Harry."

Harry was caught by surprise. He had never heard anything like that. Nothing anyone had ever said made him this happy to have such a friendship.

Ron's grin faded slightly and he looked down.

"It was hell in there, Harry," he whispered. "Worse than you could know. I imagined things. I don't know what they were."

"Shadows," Harry explained. "Shadows of things that might have been and could be. They're a neutral kind of magic, and they're everywhere. I learned about them. But in dark places, they can have dark intentions. As they told me right before I save you, they are the shadows of the unknown. Unanswered questions, unseen futures and unknown evils. What they didn't mention is that they are also the unknown good. You were dabbling in mental magic, Ron. You traveled to a place many get lost in. Dream Trails are one thing, but this, the Shadow Realm, it's difficult to find your way out again."

"And you went there," Ron said. "To lead me out."

"I did," said Harry. "I wasn't sure if I could. You were in the land of the insane. If you only knew how many people in St Mungo's were hospitalized because they dove too deep into that realm..."

"I never want to go there again." Ron was bitter as he shivered. "I saw you."

"You saw an image of me," Harry explained. "The shadows, manipulating. They wanted to keep you there. I wouldn't let them."

"They help you?" Ron asked.

"They do," Harry nodded. "They give me answers. Tell me things. But they're unpredictable."

"No kidding," Ron laughed lightly. "It's a dark place, down there. How do you manage it?"

"It's not always so dark," Harry said with a small smile. "Only where you were. There was evil there. But as I said, the shadows are neutral most of the time. But they can be swayed by dark places. Here, they are brighter than they were where we found you. So much negative energy there."

The friends were quiet a moment. Finally, Harry frowned in thought.

"What is it?" Ron asked his best friend.

"Dumbledore never did get his neck checked out by Madam Pomfrey," Harry said with a smile.