AN
Thanks BIGHARRYFAN1 for your review, you're the only one who did, and I appreciate it. Even if it was only one line. I will finish this story even if I only get one review per chapter. I just need to know you guys are actually reading it…
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Chapter Eighteen
Harry sat at the small window in his shared bedroom. Hedwig was perched next to Harry and nibbled his fingers as he watched the sunrise. He new he must be looking out at some things that would take pleasure in ripping him apart. He thought he could feel Voldermort out there, biding his time. He sat there deep in thought, and didn't realize someone waking up.
"Harry what are you doing?" Ron said sleepily.
"Nothing…" Harry said still looking out the window.
"You alright Harry?" Ron said sitting up.
"Define alright…" Harry said vaguely.
"Did you get any sleep?" Ron asked getting out of bed.
"Not really…but does it really matter? We don't have classes." Harry said finally taking his gaze from the window. As they made eye contact Ron could see pain and fatigue in Harry's face.
"Why are people talking so bloody loud so bloody early in the morning?!" Seamus said angrily.
"Sorry Seamus." Both boys said together.
Harry rose from his seat and grabbed his towel and went to have a nice shower. Once he was ready and composed he headed down to the common room. The only people in the room were, Hermione and Ron.
"Where's everyone else?" Harry asked.
"The Great Hall." Ron said.
"Let's go then shall we." Harry said making his way to the door.
"Harry…" Hermione said after him. Harry new that voice, the voice of concern.
"Yes, Mione?" Harry said turning around.
"Are you…alright?" Hermione asked sincerely.
"I guess…" Harry said vaguely.
"Ron said you didn't sleep last night." Hermione pushed. Harry gave Ron a look.
"I didn't sleep, but I was just thinking." Harry replied looking aimlessly around.
"About what?" Hermione asked stepping forward.
"It doesn't matter. Let's go to lunch." Harry said with a faked happiness.
"Don't do this Harry…" Ron said standing.
"Do what?" Harry asked getting annoyed.
"Don't shut us out. We have been with you through think and thin." Ron said.
"I'm not shutting you out." Harry said his voice rising.
"You are! We haven't talked in ages, I mean talked, talked. We need to know what's going on in your head. And we used to do it so easily with out question. Lately we don't really know what's going on with you any more. You have become so distant to us. You're here with us but it's like you never really are any more!" Hermione said tears starting to appear in her eyes.
"So this is how it's going to be, an intervention against me!" Harry said indignantly. "Things change Hermione, I can't tell you everything!"
"But you can!" Ron said.
"You want to know the truth! I am scared to death, I don't want to be alone but I am." Harry said.
"But you aren't alone, you've got us." Ron said.
"No I don't, I can't have you. I can't have a normal life until Voldermort has gone. So many people are dead because of me! And I can't ever have a proper relationship because I wouldn't want the girl I love to be in mortal danger! Everything I touch Voldermort can take away, he can kill everyone I care for. And I hate to think what he would do to my best friends. That's why I can't have friends I don't know how to live my life anymore. And now with Max! He is the only one who can help me and I don't even know him! I'm so sick of hiding and waiting for Voldermort to attack me! So is that what you wanted to hear, I can't be your friend." Harry turned and left the two in shock and imminent tears.
He had lost his appetite so he decided to give Max a visit. He found the portrait and asked if he could be let in. Eventually it opened and Max stood in the door way.
"Can I come in?" Harry asked quietly.
"Sure…" Max said walking back into his room. Harry followed him in. As he looked around the room, finally his eyes landed on a pile of weapons on the center table. Swords, daggers, and what he thought must be a gun.
"What brings you to my humble abode?" Max asked, Harry looked up from the weapons.
"I needed to talk to you; you are the only one who can help me defeat Voldermort." Harry said.
"I doubt that very much." Max said.
"You are going to aid me somehow, and you are powerful." Harry said stepping forward.
"That is true, but I am not the only one who is going to help you." Max said, "You have friends here who will die for you, who will follow you to the end of the world."
"I can't ask for there help…"Harry said sadly.
"But you can ask for mine" Max said with a smile.
"I didn't mean it like that. It's just I know you can take care of yourself in a fight and I don't have to worry about you. But with Ron and Hermione, I would worry too much." Harry said gravely.
"Harry," Max said offering Harry a seat. He took it and Max sat down opposite him. "Friends are all you have. You need friends, to keep you sane. In my world I didn't have a lot of friends but I could talk to the few I had. I could never talk to my folks I just couldn't. Friends are all I had, and I needed them. You need friends in times like these. I haven't been here exactly, but you always need people to lean on."
"But I don't want them to die for me…" Harry said softly.
"That is not your choice." Max said "You have to realize that they will follow you even if you don't want them to. I think Hermione and Ron would do anything you asked of them, except leave you. You and they are so close and such good friends don't throw that away." Max got up and strapped on some of his various weapons and placed the others in a locked draw. "I know I have stated the obvious for most of this 'talk' but sometimes you just need to hear it from someone else."
"I don't know if I can talk to them anymore. We had a big fight and I don't think we could ever be friends again…" Harry said looking at the ground.
"Harry, judging from past fights, I think you guys could work your way through anything." Max said smiling.
"How do you know so much about us?" Harry asked looking up at Max.
"That, Harry is a secret of mine, which you can never know!" Max said with a huge grin. "Go and find your friends Harry, you need to talk to them…"
Harry and Max left his room and walked off in opposite directions. Harry walked slowly back to the common room, he entered and could hear someone crying. He could see Ron trying to comfort Hermione on the couch.
"Harry…" Ron said as he saw him approach.
"Ron, I…" Harry said, "I'm sorry I guess. Everything is crazy. It so hard sometimes."
"We know Harry that's why we're here for you. We will always be here for you." Ron said. Hermione had stopped crying.
"You just need to let us in Harry…" Hermione said quietly.
"I will, just give me some time…" Harry said sadly.
Dawn woke up later than usual and went down to the Great halls for a late breakfast. It was still pretty full. She went over and sat with Willow and Xander, on the Gryffindor table. She sat down and started to serve her self some eggs.
"Hey Dawnie, sleep well?" Willow asked.
"Yeah...I see that Max let the Slytherins go…" Dawn said with a smile.
"Yeah, Dumbledore had to ask him late at night after he got back from target practice." Willow said.
"Target Practice?" Dawn asked.
"He was using, or testing his guns in the room of requirement…" Willow explained.
"He still has those? Why didn't Dumbledore destroy them or something?" Xander said spitting out some food he was chewing.
"First of all, say it, don't spray it. And I don't think it would have made a difference, Max could still conjure up some more." Willow said.
"It's just a bit weird, I know magic has the power to kill and so do the weapons Buffy uses, but guns just seem wrong." Dawn said with a shiver.
"Speak of the devil." Xander said. Max stood at the entrance of the Great Hall. He made his way down to Dumbledore.
"Dumbledore, I must speak with you." Max said once he got close enough to the headmaster. Dumbledore nodded and he followed him back to his office. Once inside max started to talk.
"I don't like this." Max said forwardly.
"What would that be?" Dumbledore asked, as he seated himself.
"Just waiting around. I know we can't do much but I think we could have some classes in fighting or something. I'm surprised no one else has mentioned it." Max said his hand on his forehead.
"Yes, I have been contemplating the idea. Maybe today would be a good chance to start?" Dumbledore asked.
"Can you make an announcement over your PA system? Do you have PA system, I don't remember." Max asked in confusion.
"We have a magical type of PA system, why?" Dumbledore asked getting out what looked sort of like a gramophone.
"We need, Buffy and everyone up here." Max said.
"Would you like to make the announcement?" Dumbledore asked a twinkle in his eye. Max smiled and indicated he would. "You just press this and speak into here."
Max pressed the button down and then spoke into the funnel like thing.
"Would the following people please report to the Headmasters Office immediately? Buffy Summers, Dawn Summers, Xander Harris, Willow Rosenberg, Cordelia Chase, Angel, and Giles. Thank you." Max smiled he had always wanted to do that. Soon the room was filled with the specified people.
"Is there a problem?" Buffy asked.
"Apart from the impending doom that surrounds us?" Max asked with a hint of sarcasm.
"You know what I mean!" Buffy said exasperated.
"No, Miss Summers, there is no problem but Mr. White has brought something to my attention. He, like I'm sure most of you are, is tiered of waiting." Dumbledore said.
"I know we should wait and all but I don't think that means sitting on our bums!" Max said interrupting Dumbledore.
"Yes, quite, well he has proposed we start up some quick training programs to help us prepare for the oncoming battle. We hope we wont have to use the younger of your students but if we could start up some classes today that might be good." Dumbledore said.
"I was thinking about what you guys could teach and I think it should go. Angel and Buffy you should do some armed combat training. Dawn, Xander, and Giles, some hand to hand combat classes. Willow and Cordelia some meditation classes. They will help to be in a good state of mind. And if you get the staff to do some wand related fighting classes that would be great Headmaster. I know it must be weird that I am kinda bossing you guys around. But it is for the greater good, I already messed up once I don't want to do it again." Max said, he then reached for the device he had called everyone here with.
"I think It would be good to inform everyone of our decision wouldn't you?" Dumbledore nodded. He pressed the button again.
"Would all students and professors please proceed to the Great Hall for a special announcement pronto? Thank you." Max said. "Let's go…" Max said leading the way out. Everyone filled out and went to the Great Hall.
When they got there students were still coming in and all the Professors were accounted for. Snape, McGonagall, Flitwick, and various other teachers agreed to do the dueling class. Finally everyone was seated and Max rose, he had asked Dumbledore if he could tell them.
"Good morning students. We have called you hear because we have some…news. As you know we are surrounded by monsters and what not. Don't worry there not attacking yet. But I don't think we should be sitting here doing nothing. We have decided to run some "combat" classes. These will be as followed. Dueling will be taken by Professor Snape," there were collective groans, "and Professor McGonagall." The gasps seemed to be cut short. "They will also have other Professors there to help out. Next we have armed combat, this means no magic. This class will be taken by Miss Summers and Professor O'Conner." There were loud applauds. "Ok, ok next we have hand to hand combat. This will be taken by the younger Miss Summers, Mr. Harris, and Mr. Giles." More applauds. "Finally there will be a meditation class. This will be taken by Ms. Rosenberg, and Professor Chase. We have decided that we will have open classes in ten minuets. This will mean that you can pick one class now and it will run indefinitely, then you pick another. All the classes are mandatory; you must attend each class once a day. There is also a limit to how many people can be in one place, if you're not let in then the limit has been reached. Only expansions on the limit may be pressed for the last class of the day. In between classes there will be a fifteen minuet break. Now over to the people who will be teaching you, Buffy if you would." Max slumped in his chair and Buffy rose to address the school.
"Ok, armed combat will be held in the Defense Against the Dark Arts room. It will be a tough class for most of you, especially if you haven't had any experience in this area. And I wouldn't challenge me either, I may not look like much but I could kick your DADA teacher's ass!" She said sitting down. The school applauded and whistled. Dawn rose.
"Like my sister said, I know I may only look your age but I have had experience. Our class will be held here in the Great Hall. I ask if you are going to be in our class that you start stretching as soon as people start to leave. But I hope we can have a lot of fun!" Dawn said with bounce. Clapping continued. Cordelia rose.
"Ok, so meditation will be held in the divinations room. This may seem like a stupid class but it will help you prepare mentally for the fight if you have to fight. You also must put feelings for Miss Rosenberg away and just get over it." She sat down and there were a few claps. Snape then rose.
"Dueling will be held in the same place as it is always held. If you don't know where to go, asks some one who dose. I expect you to be punctual!" he sat down and got a few scattered claps.
"Well, if you could please head of to the designated places we can get started." Dumbledore said standing.
A/N
Well that's it for now; sorry it takes so long to those of you who read it. Please review for my sake and make suggestions!