Hullo!

Its me again! YAY for you! Lots happening in this chapter, so stay alert. Happy times are here again!! ::dances, exits stage left::

Heart and Mind: Haha! 3 in the morning?? Don't worry hun, we've ALL done it. Didn't suspect Skye as Voldy's daughter? Now, THAT was sorta shocking. But its ok. I don't think most people relate the red eyes thing to Moldymort. But, you COULD say it was part of a tragic family history...Anyways, thanks for the compliment. As for 'Mione and the Veil ::cackles evilly and scurries away to the laboratory::

HoofsTails Gal: Ok ok, we had a deal I suppose. And a deal's a deal. Since I simply cannot BEAR to suffer another innocent person's demise. You wouldn't believe the statistics on suicide chair jumpers...Wooooo...it boggles the mind...

skittles-07: ::creeps out of bomb shelter and dusts himself off:: Ok then. Just so you know, I wasn't only hiding from you...The sky is liable to collapse at any moment and I was simply practicing my flee and panic routine. I think I got it down. But I DO appreciate your forgiveness. And I'm also glad that you're approving of the Harry-to-Jimmy ratio I've been working on. Now, as for Harry finding out about Jimmy and Skye...I mean, COME ON, the boy's not THAT dense. He might not be romance-savvy, but he's got eyes. He already knows something big is going on between Jimmy and Skye, he's just in lovely Denial Land. YAY Denial Land!

She was fighting again. You would think after the past several failed attempts, she'd give up already. But no, she was struggling against the spell once more. Her hands clenched as she visibly fought an internal battle. It was amusing actually, to see how she miserably tried to break free. But it was fruitless, he knew that. Her eyes shimmered in the dim light as she inevitably accepted defeat.

She had determination; he'd give her that. But it wouldn't be enough. She was too valuable an asset to allow him to lose control over her. Besides, she reminded him of 'her'. She would have to do until he could have his little one at his side once more.

Draconus Malfoy's treachery was a great loss, but he felt confident that his followers' sons were taking care of that situation. All was coming together, all was falling into place. He needed but one more piece of the puzzle.

Reaching out, he ran his translucent, spindly fingers through the mass of bushy brown hair. She spasmed and before he could react, clutched his hand and forced a blast of her power from her fingertips straight to his brain.

She managed to scream a single word through his thoughts before he struck her down in a fit of rage. Kicking aside her quivering body, he readjusted his cloak and frowned in spite of himself.
She had somehow managed to channel her raw energy, without a wand, to expel her cry.

Amazing.

Pulling out his wand, he aimed it at the whimpering girl," I hope that was worth it."

And with that, he watched happily as she writhed in pain.

--------

"HARRY!!"

Harry jolted upright with a gasp. He quickly looked around himself, the spike of panic thumping at his mind. He reached up and shoved his raven hair from his eyes, realizing he was covered in sweat. His scar was throbbing like mad, searing through his skull and stabbing at his brain. Voldemort was happy, the emotion washing over his senses like a warm bath were pretty hard to miss. But he was also worried, and Harry knew exactly why. For that brief span of time, he had seen through the Dark Lord's eyes. Perhaps the man was growing far too confident or perhaps he had simply gotten foolish and let his guard down. Either way, Harry had been able to use Legilimency to enter Voldemort's mind, seeing the sight he had been dreading for over a year now. He was both relieved yet terrified at what he discovered; Hermione was alive, but beginning to give up.

It lifted the tiniest of weights from his heart, giving him more reason to confront the Dark Lord. Hermione needed his help. Now that he knew she was more or less alright, he just HAD to save her. The ache was gnawing away at him as he unsteadily rose to his feet from the corner of the bed.

He exhaled shakily and glanced round his room through the darkness. Malfoy was still unconscious on the bed, and it looked as if someone had put fresh bandages on his various wounds while Harry was using the spell. Harry held back a shudder at the sight of how pale Malfoy looked, almost dead like. Turning his head, he saw Ron was fast asleep in the armchair, his arms hanging over the side as he snored. Seamus and Dean were on the carpet, back-to-back, and obviously asleep. Skye had herself between Jimmy's nightstand and the chair Ron was snoozing in, a blanket tightly wrapped around her as she dozed as well.

Harry frowned; there was one person aside from himself that was refusing sleep. Walking over quietly, Harry leaned against the wall besides the window where Jimmy stood, arms crossed, face set as he lost himself in deep thought.

Only when Harry sighed did Jimmy seem to notice he had company.

"Oh, hiya Harry," He mumbled, his voice hoarse.

Harry examined his brother closer, seeing frown lines etched into his youthful skin. The boy's eyes looked puffy, his complexion several shades paler than the moonlight already made it. His hair lay exhaustedly limp. His lips looked badly swollen, as if all night he kept biting them, forcing back any sound that dared pass them," You look horrible."

Jimmy scoffed softly," Gee, thanks. You always were such a morale booster."

Harry sighed and shifted his weight against the wall," I'm serious."

Jimmy's eyes floated down from the night sky, onto somewhere on the lawn," I couldn't sleep."

"He'll be alright, Jim. We fixed him up better than Pomfrey could've. He'll be back to his old self by morning."

"Thats not the point, Harry," Jimmy retorted, his eyes filling with even more sorrow.

"Then what is it?"

"It wouldn't have happened in the first place had we not brought him into this."

Harry sighed," Malfoy's a big boy, he knew what he was getting himself into. And he willingly went along with it anyway."

Jimmy's shoulders slumped a bit," We've put him in danger though...What if we lose him?"

Harry gently rubbed his brother's shoulder blade," We won't. Malfoy can take care of himself. He'd probably be shooting fire out the ears if he heard the way you're talking about him."

"But he's our responsibility..."

Harry frowned, easing his hand back. Jimmy looked far too pained at Malfoy's attack than any of the others. "Is there something you're not telling me?"

Jimmy stared with shimmering eyes out at the lawn, his mouth staying immobile.

"Jimmy..." Harry started, hoping his assumption was wrong." Do you have any...FEELINGS for Malfoy that I should know about?"

Jimmy turned his eyes to his brother, making the breath leave Harry's body.

"Oh god, you DON'T do you?" Harry asked frantically.

"No you moron," Jimmy mumbled.

Harry breathed a sigh of relief, letting his heart rate drop back down. But the continuing look of grief still plastered on his twin's face didn't ease his anxiety. Oh please God, let my suspicions be wrong." Jimmy...what is it?"

"I...I can't...I promised." He murmured.

"Promised who?"

"I can't, Harry. I can't tell anyone...We swore," Jimmy muttered, sliding one hand up onto his own shoulder.

"Who's 'we' ?" Harry pressed.

Jimmy's gaze fluttered down and landed on the sleeping form of Skye.

Harry wrinkled his forehead, looking from Jimmy to Skye and back again, a growing sense of dread building rapidly in his gut.

"She's in great danger...and I just made it worse," He whispered.

"What do you mean?"

His mind wasn't as sturdy as he would've liked, everything reeling around in dizzying circles. He had no control. He was at the beck and call of fate. But there was something he COULD control. And right now, he needed to release it. He wanted Harry to know before anything happened to either of them. With the way things were going, who knew if he'd ever get the chance later. " Skye was working closer to Voldemort than you think."

Harry stirred uneasily," How close is close?"

Jimmy looked at his brother," Remember that riddle Cienna gave you?"

"Yes."

"She's it."

Harry blanched," What?"

"Her name's Skye Riddle, Harry. SHE was the answer."

"B-but...How can that be?"

"Look at it all, Harry...Everything we needed to know, she answered for us. She told us exactly what we needed to hear...She was the answer to everything," Jimmy replied, looking astray once again.

The flustered Potter stumbled for words. 'The answer lies in the Riddle.' So, the key to everything had been right under his nose. Cienna was right, he had everything he needed to defeat the Dark Lord in the form of Skye. She had knowledge of almost everything, including Voldemort's exact location. She probably even know all the whereabouts of the entire Death-Eater force. "So...wow..." Then something dawned on him," Wait, did you say Riddle?"

"Mmhmm.."

"But...hang on..." The connection snapped into place inside Harry's brain, making his heart plummet into his toes." Skye RIDDLE? And she's Voldemort's closest ally?"

"Yes..." Jimmy replied. He didn't need to look over to see Harry's dismayed face," She's Voldemort's daughter."

Harry felt his throat close up, lodging out any further words.

Jimmy then finally met his eyes with his brother's, tears gliding down his face," And...And I love her."

------

Harry rubbed the stitch between his eyes, feeling the cool air waft onto his neck through the slightly opened window. Sunlight was streaking through the drawn curtains, informing him that he'd dozed off. Like a heavy slap, the night flashed back into his mind. Again, his stomach churned as his heart panged.

His brother was in love with Skye Riddle, the spawn of the wizarding world's mortal enemy. The offspring of the monster that had killed his parents without mercy. The daughter of everything he loathed in this world. A POTTER with a RIDDLE. It had to be some cosmic joke... The irony was simply too much to bear.

How could Jimmy be so STUPID? Falling in love with the enemy! What was he thinking?!

Looking over, Harry saw Ron stirring in his seat and bit back a sound when he shifted his eyes and met with Skye's. Her blood-red stare sent a shiver through his spine. How did they know Voldemort wasn't looking right out at them through her? How could Jimmy put himself, and everyone else, in such a horrible situation?

"Mornin'," Skye whispered quietly, getting to her feet.

"Morning," Harry said back curtly. He watched her, suspicious of her every move now. Seamus and Dean were still snoring, Ron stirring slightly just to get comfortable again, and Malfoy still out cold, so it left just the two of them awake since Jimmy had long been gone.

"We need to talk."

Skye nodded and followed him as he led them over to his bed. He crawled onto it and drew the curtains soon as she had settled herself at the foot of the mattress. Waving a silencing charm over his four-poster, he rounded on her. "Jimmy told me the truth last night." Harry blurted immediately." He told me who you are."

Skye's skin tone paled, almost matching the white of her eyes," D-did he?"

"Yes...Now, I know he trusts you without question, but I'm a different matter."

"All of a sudden," She spat.

Harry frowned," What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means that its forgivable to be in ties with the Dark Lord, but not be his daughter?"

"You grew up with the man. His genes are yours. His cruelty is in your -blood-. Hell, for all we know, he's watching me right as we speak because of you."

Skye's cheeks regained their lost color, and then some," For your information, I didn't grow up with him! My mother brought me up because, incase you've forgotten, he had fled for his life after you sucked his powers from him."

"That's no excuse. You're with him now. You were doing his bidding most of this year."

"Only because he would've killed me and my mother otherwise...But its not the life that I want!"

"What do you want then, pray tell?"

"I want Jimmy!"

Both brunettes were snapped into silence, shocked at the words that had escaped Skye's mouth. Harry scowled at Skye's ruffled face. Suddenly, a rush of protective instincts kicked in," Well, you can't have him."

Skye shot him a dirty look," Who are you? His keeper?"

" I'm his brother, which is more or less the same thing," He spat.

"Jimmy is a grown man, he can decide for himself what to do about me. And OBVIOUSLY, he wants to be with me."

"How could you possibly know that?" Harry seethed, growing impatient with her confident attitude. How could they not realize what a bad idea this was? How could they not see how dangerous the situation's become?

"Because he's had me for the past four weeks."

Harry felt as if he'd been slapped. Jimmy had kept this a secret for almost a month?! He'd gone behind everyone's back and made chummy with the enemy? "Why that bloody lying bas-"

"Don't you DARE Harry Potter!" Skye yelled angrily, her eyes flashing." We kept this a secret because I KNEW how you would react. Jimmy wanted to tell you, right from the beginning, but it was ME who said no. And I was right to hesitate, look at you." Her gaze eyed him over with disgust," Some savior. Can't even let his own brother fall in love."

"Its not LOVE! Its LUST!" He exclaimed, veins throbbing in his head.

"Its LOVE, Potter. We love each other and we'll keep seeing one another whether you approve or not!" Skye screamed before leaping from the bed.

Harry scrambled out from the curtains, glaring daggers at her retreating back," Fine! Fuck his brains out for all I care! THIS WON'T END HAPPILY!" Harry exhaled shakily, adrenaline still pulsing through his body as Skye slammed the door shut. Turning round, he saw every pair of eyes awake and shocked.

Ron walked over to him, a curious but cautious look in his eye," What was that all about?"

Harry flicked his hand at the matter and mumbled," Nothing, forget it." He then walked to Malfoy's side and went to work on changing the blood-soaked bandages.

-----

God, it hurts so badly. No one had ever hurt her as much as Harry just did. She had to find Jimmy. She just HAD to fling herself into his strong arms and hear him tell her it'd be alright, that Harry would accept them and be happy for them. She knew Harry disliked her, but nothing could've prepared her for his livid reproach and flat out disapproval.

She loved Jimmy with all of her heart and soul, wasn't that enough for him? She would care and honor Harry's twin for as long as Jimmy wanted her, how could he disapprove of that? Hadn't he loved Hermione Granger? Cienna Parker? Didn't he know how hard it was to keep from the person he loved? How could Harry say those things?
Unable to proceed further, Skye crumpled against the wall, vaguely aware of all the gawking eyes around her. Where was Jimmy? She needed her Jimmy.

"Skye?"

Skye whipped her gaze up, Jimmy making his way through the crowd to get to her, a look of utter fright on his face. Fresh tears plummeted down her face as she leapt to her feet and tumbled into his embrace," Jimmy! Oh god, Jimmy!"

He fastened his arms around her trembling form, gently stroking her back to soothe her hysterical sobs. He frowned hard, feeling his heart pang at how badly Skye was crying, and that he didn't know how to fix it. Glancing up, he saw a huge throng of students staring shamelessly at the couple, looks of both shock and disgust on their faces.

"Get going, there's nothing to see here," He hissed at them. Upon their reluctance, he barked," MOVE!"
That got the people moving alright, scrambling each way just to get out of range of any spells Jimmy might sic on them. With a sigh, Jimmy pulled Skye protectively closer."Shhh, its ok..."

"No...No its not..." She groaned into his chest, balling up his robes in her fists. "Harry confronted me this morning...God, he HATES me! He really HATES me!"

Jimmy buried his face in her hair, at a loss of words.

"I just wanted to love you. Thats it, thats all..."Skye shook with racking sobs, pushing herself tighter against the brunette.

"I know ...I know," He murmured into her soft raven hair.

"Harry's never going to let me be with you in peace, is he? None of them are," Skye asked miserably.

Jimmy faltered, not knowing exactly how to answer that.

Skye peered up at him, her eyes glittering the sunlight that was streaming in above her head," Do you truly believe we should be together?"

Jimmy smiled a little. That one was definitely easy." Of course."

"Why?"

He blinked," Why?"

"Yes, why? "

"Because..." Jimmy knew very well why, but it was having a hard time traveling from his heart to his mouth." Because, Skye...I...I love you."
Jimmy held his breath, waiting for the initial shock to wash from Skye's face. Like a cascade of warm water, her smile washed away any previous doubt.

She leaned and gave him the gentlest of kisses, playing with the hair at the nape of his neck. Pulling away, she pressed her forehead against his," I'm glad you said that."

"Why?" He mumbled against her mouth.

"Because...makes it easier to say it back," Skye answered with a grin. "God, I love you Jimmy Potter."

Jimmy smiled a toothy grin, hugging her closer," I don't care what anyone says, especially Harry...Anything that feels this good, is meant to be."

Skye reached up and cradled her lover's cheek, "And this definitely feels good..."

------

Harry paced back and forth, his hands clenched behind his back. He'd been gone awhile...Too long. What if something happened to him? What if he was captured? That meant it was Harry's fault. He forced the boy to leave in the first place. He hadn't been supportive. Harry cringed as the full reality of the situation hit him. Jimmy had been reaching out to him. He could now recall the look that had baffled him earlier, clear as day in his brother's eyes. All Jimmy wanted was Harry's support, and Harry shot him down like a dead bird. Jimmy had trusted his brother enough to disobey Skye's wishes and tell him that they were together. And what did he do? He spat it back in his face and made Skye's accusations precisely true. He DID hurt Jimmy cause of their pairing...And now, cause of that, Jimmy could be lying somewhere hurt ,or worse...He could be in the hands of the devil himself, Voldemort.

Harry gave an involuntary shutter.

"He's probably down at the Great Hall, getting dinner," Ron offered, watching Harry from his perch at the foot of the bed.

"No such luck, we just checked and no Jimmy," Seamus replied as he walked in flanked by Neville and Dean.

"He's been gone all day, along with Skye...I'm really getting worried," Ron said, wringing his hands nervously.

"Why did he take off in the first place? I would think he wouldn't leave Malfoy's side for anything," Dean commented, sinking into a chair.

"It was my fault," Harry muttered.

All eyes looked puzzled at the brunette.

Harry sighed, his gaze somewhere on the carpet," He came to me with a huge secret and I threw it back in his face...I mean, even though I kinda already knew, well, HALF of it anyway, since I never would've guessed for the other half. But even so, I had a feeling I knew the entire truth, even if I didn't let myself believe- " Harry stopped himself. Taking a deep breath, he continued,'I wouldn't be surprised if he was at Voldemort's side right now, plotting to kill me."

"What secret was it?" Ron inquired.

"Well, it was-"

"Us."

The six boys turned their gazes upon the couple outlined in the doorway, hand in hand.

Seamus's stomach turned as Dean's jaw dropped. Neville looked dumbfounded as Ron's ears turned their infamous red. Harry looked ashamed while only Draco seemed to be taking the sight well...Oddly well...So well, in fact, that he was smiling.

" Thought so," He said with a smirk.

Harry rounded on him," You KNEW!?"

"Course I knew. I got EYES, don't I?"

"So do I, but you decided to just keep it to yourself and not bother telling ME? " Harry exclaimed, more ashamed of himself than before.

"It wasn't my secret to tell, Potter. If Jimmy and Skye didn't want anyone to know, then it certainly wasn't my place to tell ," Draco retorted indignantly."

"All of a sudden you're polite and courteous," Ron muttered, his cheeks taking on the same red tone.

"Well, at least I didn't shoot off my rocker making them feel worse off than I know they already do!" He shot back.

"Well, SORRY for reacting like a human being!" Harry cried.

"If you could call yourself that after stabbing your BROTHER in the back," Draco hissed, the classic Slytherin scowl burning in his silver eyes." For Merlin's sake, Potter. I act more like the chap's brother than you do!"

Harry's temper rose almost instantly," Why you bleeding-"

"STOP!"

The Gryffindors and Slytherin jumped, turning at Skye's scream.

"We didn't want this to happen!" She yelled, her body trembling." We didn't want our love to cause a fight..."

Jimmy drew her closer against him as she buried her face in his chest, sobbing. "I don't want us breaking apart because of my love life...So, grow up and just accept that I can take care of myself. You can accept us or not, I just don't want another word of hostility because of my decision or I'll hex you all into a lifetime of impotence."

Draco seemed the only one who quickly complied," Alright."

Ron looked at Harry hesitantly, then exchanged glances with the others. Harry wasn't giving any indicator of what their reactions should be. Ron looked at them skeptically, truly seeing how much their arguing was tearing up the couple, and stood up offering Jimmy a friendly clap on the shoulder," I surrender then. Merlin knows your spells aren't a thing to be trifled with."

Jimmy smiled weakly, receiving words of reassurance from the others. But there was only one he was truly waiting for.

As if he knew he was being thought of, Harry looked up into his twin's eyes. Those eyes were so much like his own, the same glints of hazel speckled throughout the deep emerald. The same strength, same courage, same resolve. But what lay beyond that green made the two infinitely different. Jimmy walked on the edge and enjoyed it whereas the world tended to be black and white for Harry. As much as he wished he could watch over Jimmy and make sure nothing ever happened to him, Harry knew he couldn't. Jimmy would always be Jimmy and there was nothing he could do about that. With a deep sigh, Harry whispered, "Its ok, Jim."

Jimmy nodded with a smile that said all that raced through his body that very moment. Skye lifted her head from Jimmy's chest and sniffled as the unscathed Potter rubbed her back and his twin gave her an apologetic smile.

"You know, we have enough problems without turning on each other," Draco said as he sat up in bed.

"Speaking of problems, I wanted to talk to you all about that," Harry stated, crossing the room to stand in front of Jimmy. "I don't think we should wait. Its obvious Voldemort -stop that Seamus-, is right on our heels. He's not kidding around anymore. He's killed countless victims already and he's not going to stop until I confront him."

All was silent at this until Jimmy dislodged himself from Skye and stepped up to his brother," I agree. Its about time we stopped running and faced HIM for once. I say we settle this once and for all. Tonight."

Harry couldn't help the swell of gratitude, even though the rest of his friends' faces were appalled.

"I understand if some of you aren't willing to come. After all, this is my battle and mine alone...I'd actually feel better if I knew you were all safe," Harry spoke to the group of ashen-faced boys.

"I made you a promise a year ago that I'd stay with you till the end, and I still intend on going through with it," Draco stated, slowly getting up from the sunken sheets. He smoothed out his silvery disheveled hair and pulled on his cloak over the borrowed Gryffindor robes.

"I'm with you too, mate. Seven years of friendship, its the least I can do," Ron chimed in, grimly tossing the sides of his cloak behind him.

"My parents didn't get tortured into insanity just to see their only son not want to stand up for whats right," Neville said forcefully, standing more straight and braver than he felt.

Jimmy looked over, seeing the apprehension on Seamus and Dean's faces," You two go straight to Dumbledore and tell him where we've gone. He'll know what to do with that information."

The two boys nodded firmly, then fled the room.

"He's my father, I have to face him if I ever want a chance at a normal life," Skye muttered, her hands clenched in white fists.

"Then thats that...Lets go before we lose our nerve," Ron put in, his voice wavering on its old high tone.

Harry, Jimmy, Ron, Neville, Draco and Skye gathered their wands and cloaks, then sprinted from the Gryffindor Tower in a rush of adrenaline and fear. This was it. No more hiding. No more running. This was it. The final battle was rapidly approaching and the six teenagers welcomed it with open arms.