A/N: I apologize for this taking so long to get out, but I was in Washington with no computer, and then I was just too plain lazy to write...::shifty eyes:: Oh, and also, this chapter is a tad short, and I apologize for that as well, but I really like this chapter, and I hope you enjoy it as well. Oh yes, and as an after thought....Poopyxinfinity...You are the ultimate reviewer! Because YOU have reviewed on number 42!! And don't panic, I have my towel. By the way, don't forget to stop at the resturaunt at the end of the universe and get yourself a Gargleblasted drink thingy ma bober...::cough:: I don't remember the exact name....
Anyway, without any further adooooooo, READ!
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A single push could start a life.
A single gust of wind could fly a kite.
A single word can turn a boy into a man.
A single stroke could start a masterpiece.
A single kiss could start a unity that lasts forever.
A single blink could make you miss out on a million things.
A single grain of rice can topple the scale.
A single punch could break a friendship.
A single shout could start an avalanche.
A single jump could end a life.
A single blow could erase the light.
A single act could start a war.
---------------------------------------------.
My footsteps revebrated on the stone underneath my feet, echoing in the near-empty dungeon corridor. He was standing next to me, a stone statue of marble. I couldn't believe how he could show no emotion what so ever. War had been going on around us for weeks now, you could even hear the screams if you went and stood on the top of the towers. But he acted as if none of it were happening. His face was always blank. I'm sure, that if you were to look at mine, you would see every small little particle of fear sketched into my face.
"Draco..."
"Hn?"
"I'm scared..." It was the first time I really said it aloud, and just hearing the words on my ears made the terror in my heart multiply tenfold. I bowed my head, and I could feel tears leaking from the sides of my eyes.
"I think, Ginny, that everybody is."
I looked up at him, stopping in my tracks. After noticing that I was no longer walking, he, too, stopped, and turned to me.
"Ginny?"
"How can you say that, when you don't even looked scared yourself?" I asked, my voice shaking.
"Just because I don't look it, doesn't mean that I'm not."
I looked back at the floor. "I'm...going to go back to my common room, ok?"
"Yeah."
------------------------------------------.
That was the last day I saw him. Soon after that evening, all the seventh years that were suitable for battle were called out. I felt so alone and afraid when I heard. Not only for Draco, but for everybody. Ron...he left without us ever making up. He probably left still hating my guts. And Hermione, the last time I saw her, it had been when I went to the library for a book, and I had completely snubbed her. And Harry...I felt bad for Harry. That night, when he left, I could see him shaking. I wanted it all to go away. I wanted to go back to how it was. Why couldn't everything just be normal? Why did there have to be war?
------------------------------------.
It had been two months, two months since they had left, and still, we knew nothing. We were all kept safely herded in Hogwarts, and not even news of what was happening reached our ears. It was like we were caged, eyes blindfolded and senses dulled to the world. Ignorance is bliss, right?
Fear is something all of us overestimated. It was always thought that with fear, it would be worse knowing that something was coming and not being able to stop it. But I disagree. It is much worse to not know. To not know what is going to happen to you the next time you get out of bed. Will you still be alive? Or will someone have slit your throat in the middle of the night?
------------------------------------.
It is sad, really, how even though war is such a horrible thing, it still unites. We had stopped staying in our common rooms by then, it felt too lonely. Without the classes being held, we had nothing to do, and staying locked up in small little rooms was terrifying in itself. We were all clustered into our own little groups. Slytherins in that corner, Gryffindors in this, Hufflepuff over there, and Ravenclaw on the other side of the room. But then, people started to venture into the middle of the room, Slytherins mixing with Gryffindors, Gryffindors with Ravenclaws, Ravenclaws with Hufflepuffs. We all talked and cried, prayed and wished together, huddled together in that suddenly cold feeling room. As if anything felt warm anymore. If it had been in any other circumstance, people would be overjoyed. All of the houses, finally united.
Too bad it was at the cost of human lives.
--------------------------------------------.
Over a year. Over a year, we had stayed in Hogwarts, over a year we lived with the fear of not knowing what the next day would bring. Over a year of wasting away inside of a castle. We were like tigers in a zoo. Each day we were fed and cared for, but at first, there was that light in us, the one that called for freedom. Every time the door would be opened for the zoo keeper to bring in the food, the tiger would tense, waiting, waiting for the moment when he could escape, when he could once again roam free with its own will. But its futile. And, after a while, that light dies. It whiles away, like a wisp of light, slowly being covered with hot wax, slowly dieing out, until there is nothing left. All there is is an empty soul. Eating, walking, but not living. Not there.
I'm sure, that deep down, we all yearned for freedom. For the war to end so that we could see our families, so that we could rejoice. But that was buried so far inside of us, that we couldn't find it anymore. What was the use? It wasn't like it would ever get any better. That was the thoughts that now filled our minds.
We had succumbed to the darkness around us.
----------------------------------------------------.
Finally though, a small glimmer of light shone through. Footsteps. Coming nearer. To the doors. Stopping.
We waited. It sounded like an army of people. They were quiet, as if waiting as well. After what seemed like an eternity, we heard a united sound, a hoot of victory. But for who? Who was standing outside of the doors?
There were murmurs all around the hall. Which side was it? Who was there?
"It doesn't matter...if its the enemy...we die...its better than staying here any longer."
My head turned to the person who had spoken. I was sure I knew who it was, but I didn't remember her name anymore. It was in my head somewhere, swimming around with all the other forgotten faces. I wanted to speak up, to tell her she was wrong. But the instant my mouth opened, I found myself second guessing my thoughts. Was it really better? Was dying really better than staying here? Was...was death really what would be...No. I shook my head, dispelling those thoughts. There would always be hope. As long as the sun was still rising, there would always be hope. Always.
My view swiveled back to the door as it creaked, the heavy door sliding slowly open. Silence filled my ears. We were all waiting tensely, clinging to each other. We could see the silhouettes of the people now, dark shadows against the sun. How long had it been since I had seen direct sunlight? It felt like centuries.
They stepped closer, so slowly coming into our field of vision. It was torture, waiting like that. I felt the urge to just jump up and run over there, to see who it was. But I was too weak minded for that, too afraid.
Friend?
Or enemy?
A little bit closer...By Merlin, they were so slow, just a little bit more, a little bit more and the shadows of the building would cover them, and we would know.
Friend?
Or enemy?
My eyes shut for a moment, allowing my body to calm down. I was shaking, from fear, from excitement, I didn't know which. When I opened them again, I could see.
The ones who came into Hogwarts. The ones that would, in one way or another, free us from this cage we had been sitting in so long.
Our liberators, be they enemy or friends, I could finally see them.
----------------------------------------------------------.
A/N: THE END!!! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHHAH.....no, really...it's the end....
::hides:: Please don't kill me! I couldn't resist!
::whimpers::
Well, I hope you liked it, I have never had so many good reviews for any of my stories, and I love all the encouragement you all have given me. It has really boosted my self-confidence. I hope you'll continue reading my stories, and I promise, this is the only one that ends like this. ::puppyeyes:: Well, if your not too angry at me, please leave a pretty review?
Luv and peace,
BakaNeko
Anyway, without any further adooooooo, READ!
------------------------------------------------.
A single push could start a life.
A single gust of wind could fly a kite.
A single word can turn a boy into a man.
A single stroke could start a masterpiece.
A single kiss could start a unity that lasts forever.
A single blink could make you miss out on a million things.
A single grain of rice can topple the scale.
A single punch could break a friendship.
A single shout could start an avalanche.
A single jump could end a life.
A single blow could erase the light.
A single act could start a war.
---------------------------------------------.
My footsteps revebrated on the stone underneath my feet, echoing in the near-empty dungeon corridor. He was standing next to me, a stone statue of marble. I couldn't believe how he could show no emotion what so ever. War had been going on around us for weeks now, you could even hear the screams if you went and stood on the top of the towers. But he acted as if none of it were happening. His face was always blank. I'm sure, that if you were to look at mine, you would see every small little particle of fear sketched into my face.
"Draco..."
"Hn?"
"I'm scared..." It was the first time I really said it aloud, and just hearing the words on my ears made the terror in my heart multiply tenfold. I bowed my head, and I could feel tears leaking from the sides of my eyes.
"I think, Ginny, that everybody is."
I looked up at him, stopping in my tracks. After noticing that I was no longer walking, he, too, stopped, and turned to me.
"Ginny?"
"How can you say that, when you don't even looked scared yourself?" I asked, my voice shaking.
"Just because I don't look it, doesn't mean that I'm not."
I looked back at the floor. "I'm...going to go back to my common room, ok?"
"Yeah."
------------------------------------------.
That was the last day I saw him. Soon after that evening, all the seventh years that were suitable for battle were called out. I felt so alone and afraid when I heard. Not only for Draco, but for everybody. Ron...he left without us ever making up. He probably left still hating my guts. And Hermione, the last time I saw her, it had been when I went to the library for a book, and I had completely snubbed her. And Harry...I felt bad for Harry. That night, when he left, I could see him shaking. I wanted it all to go away. I wanted to go back to how it was. Why couldn't everything just be normal? Why did there have to be war?
------------------------------------.
It had been two months, two months since they had left, and still, we knew nothing. We were all kept safely herded in Hogwarts, and not even news of what was happening reached our ears. It was like we were caged, eyes blindfolded and senses dulled to the world. Ignorance is bliss, right?
Fear is something all of us overestimated. It was always thought that with fear, it would be worse knowing that something was coming and not being able to stop it. But I disagree. It is much worse to not know. To not know what is going to happen to you the next time you get out of bed. Will you still be alive? Or will someone have slit your throat in the middle of the night?
------------------------------------.
It is sad, really, how even though war is such a horrible thing, it still unites. We had stopped staying in our common rooms by then, it felt too lonely. Without the classes being held, we had nothing to do, and staying locked up in small little rooms was terrifying in itself. We were all clustered into our own little groups. Slytherins in that corner, Gryffindors in this, Hufflepuff over there, and Ravenclaw on the other side of the room. But then, people started to venture into the middle of the room, Slytherins mixing with Gryffindors, Gryffindors with Ravenclaws, Ravenclaws with Hufflepuffs. We all talked and cried, prayed and wished together, huddled together in that suddenly cold feeling room. As if anything felt warm anymore. If it had been in any other circumstance, people would be overjoyed. All of the houses, finally united.
Too bad it was at the cost of human lives.
--------------------------------------------.
Over a year. Over a year, we had stayed in Hogwarts, over a year we lived with the fear of not knowing what the next day would bring. Over a year of wasting away inside of a castle. We were like tigers in a zoo. Each day we were fed and cared for, but at first, there was that light in us, the one that called for freedom. Every time the door would be opened for the zoo keeper to bring in the food, the tiger would tense, waiting, waiting for the moment when he could escape, when he could once again roam free with its own will. But its futile. And, after a while, that light dies. It whiles away, like a wisp of light, slowly being covered with hot wax, slowly dieing out, until there is nothing left. All there is is an empty soul. Eating, walking, but not living. Not there.
I'm sure, that deep down, we all yearned for freedom. For the war to end so that we could see our families, so that we could rejoice. But that was buried so far inside of us, that we couldn't find it anymore. What was the use? It wasn't like it would ever get any better. That was the thoughts that now filled our minds.
We had succumbed to the darkness around us.
----------------------------------------------------.
Finally though, a small glimmer of light shone through. Footsteps. Coming nearer. To the doors. Stopping.
We waited. It sounded like an army of people. They were quiet, as if waiting as well. After what seemed like an eternity, we heard a united sound, a hoot of victory. But for who? Who was standing outside of the doors?
There were murmurs all around the hall. Which side was it? Who was there?
"It doesn't matter...if its the enemy...we die...its better than staying here any longer."
My head turned to the person who had spoken. I was sure I knew who it was, but I didn't remember her name anymore. It was in my head somewhere, swimming around with all the other forgotten faces. I wanted to speak up, to tell her she was wrong. But the instant my mouth opened, I found myself second guessing my thoughts. Was it really better? Was dying really better than staying here? Was...was death really what would be...No. I shook my head, dispelling those thoughts. There would always be hope. As long as the sun was still rising, there would always be hope. Always.
My view swiveled back to the door as it creaked, the heavy door sliding slowly open. Silence filled my ears. We were all waiting tensely, clinging to each other. We could see the silhouettes of the people now, dark shadows against the sun. How long had it been since I had seen direct sunlight? It felt like centuries.
They stepped closer, so slowly coming into our field of vision. It was torture, waiting like that. I felt the urge to just jump up and run over there, to see who it was. But I was too weak minded for that, too afraid.
Friend?
Or enemy?
A little bit closer...By Merlin, they were so slow, just a little bit more, a little bit more and the shadows of the building would cover them, and we would know.
Friend?
Or enemy?
My eyes shut for a moment, allowing my body to calm down. I was shaking, from fear, from excitement, I didn't know which. When I opened them again, I could see.
The ones who came into Hogwarts. The ones that would, in one way or another, free us from this cage we had been sitting in so long.
Our liberators, be they enemy or friends, I could finally see them.
----------------------------------------------------------.
A/N: THE END!!! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHHAH.....no, really...it's the end....
::hides:: Please don't kill me! I couldn't resist!
::whimpers::
Well, I hope you liked it, I have never had so many good reviews for any of my stories, and I love all the encouragement you all have given me. It has really boosted my self-confidence. I hope you'll continue reading my stories, and I promise, this is the only one that ends like this. ::puppyeyes:: Well, if your not too angry at me, please leave a pretty review?
Luv and peace,
BakaNeko