Harry Potter & the Price of Mercy

by: NecessaryEvil

Chapter Seven: Getting Away

Disclaimer: Not mine, but I do enjoy Cho and Fleur's company late at night.

A/N: Thanks to my reviewers.

shdurrani: More is yet to come, but I dunno if I'd call this fic beautiful. To each their own I suppose.

Malfoy Angel: Thanks. By the way judging by your pen-name, there's something later on you may like.

potter-man: Is this really a good story? Ppl keep telling me that 'bout my stories, but I just don't see it.

Now on with the show.

The next day was a Sunday, so there was absolutely nothing to do. They of course received their schedules for the following week at breakfast, but that only sparked a half hearted argument between Ron and Hermione about Professor "Vicky," Krum. Harry watched the argument for awhile, but when it became evident that it wouldn't be escalating any time soon he silently got up and left unnoticed by his friends. Ten minutes later found Harry sitting at the edge of the lake having a staring contest with a merman who said he admired what Harry had done the previous year. This had led to Harry remembering the event sadly and this had turned into the before mentioned staring which was interspersed with loud screeches from the merman.

He heard steps coming up from behind him and he smiled as he turned around to see who it was, "'lo again,"

"Hello Harry," Viktor Krum returned the greeting, "Where is Hermioninny and Ron Weasely?"

"Up at the school...breakfast," Harry replied non-plussed.

"Why do you sit down here alone then?"

"Hogwarts has a lot of magic in it, less...annoying down here," Harry replied, only half lying.

"You should be careful," Viktor said simply.

"Can look out for m'self ok. It's my friends I'm worried about," when Harry realized that he had actually said this he was shocked, "Do you think they'll be alright," he continued, the words just coming out.

"I think they will be Harry," Viktor said, "See you in class on Wednesday,"

"Yeah," Harry said and Viktor walked back up to the castle. The merman whom had been listening through all this made a series of screeching noises and Harry, still looking at Krum's retreating back said, "I'll do it," distractedly. The merman dove back into the water and Harry got up and headed up to the Quidditch Pitch.

~~~

Cho watched as Harry flew care freely through the air. She could only imagine what he felt as he shot effortlessly through the air at unmatched speeds, well she could do more than imagine, but it was one of the things that her new friend still kept from her. She was sure it wasn't an intended secret, but she didn't think to bring it up, just in case she was wrong. She sat in the Ravenclaw stands watching him dive, spin, turn, and generally enjoy his flight around the pitch. She smiled seeing him the happiest she'd seen him all summer. She didn't even pay attention to anything else until he began landing and she noticed that the sun was setting. She got up and walked down and leaned casually against the entrance to the stands.

"Nice flying Potter," Harry looked at her and grinned before walking over.

"It was fun," he said simply a child like grin on his face, "But for once not the reason for my good mood,"

"Oh? And what is?" Cho asked, raising her eyebrow.

"Good dreams last night," Harry said with a grin.

"Oh," Cho was taken aback, did he really mean...

"Well not good as much," he continued, not seeing her face as he looked up at the sky with his hands in his pocket, looking like a little kid, which made Cho smile, "Just...I needed to have these dreams,"

"Well.. it's time for dinner I suppose," Cho said, "Up to the castle?"

"Sure," Harry shrugged. Cho thought silently as they walked up to the castle, why had she thought he would dream that? Why could he make her smile? Was she...

~~~

After a dinner full of Ron and Hermione asking where he had been all day and him skirting around the question Harry went to bed, falling into the cushions and letting the castles power wash over him. He soon fell into a deep sleep.

~~~

Harry once again sat on the edge of the precipice looking into the void. Once again someone sat down next to him.

"Hello son," Harry looked over and grinned.

"Hi dad,"

"You seem to be spending your nights on the edge,"

"Yeah, imagine that, The Boy Who Lived, right on the edge here, but it isn't taking me,"

"That's because its nowhere near your time,"

"I know," Harry said, "Was it yours?"

"It always is when it happens," James Potter said, "Though I suppose there is an exception to every rule. Will you be able to correct that sort of mistake?"

"I don't know,"

"I think you will, when the time comes," James smiled at his son, "Cedric speaks well of you,"

"He would," Harry smiled, "He's a good guy...got good taste in girls too,"

"He speaks well of her too," James said quietly.

"Will I see you again," Harry asked as James got up to leave.

James paused, "You have to move on Harry. You're needed more by the people on the other side,"

Harry smiled sadly, "That a no then?"

There was no answer and when Harry looked over his shoulder his father was gone. Harry turned back to the void and looked deep into it before getting up and walking away.

~~~

Harry woke up in his bed and got up. He looked at his clock and saw that it was a hour before dawn. He turned off his alarm so it wouldn't wake his dorm mates when he had planned to wake up and then he made his way to the showers, he had woken up feeling extremely cold, and he intended to remedy that.

A/N: I'm big on conversations and am getting big on dreams. Hope you like. Review please, I like reviews.