A/N: I had to write this chapter twice, because the first time it was boring. Thank you very, very much to my readers, especially those of you who reviewed. I was flat dumbfounded at the number and quality of reviews I got, and you guys really helped me to keep going even when the chapter didn't want to work out so well.
Moreover though, I want to extend a super special thanks to my betas who both helped me out despite hectic schedules. Virgin Suicide and CS Whitewolf, you are awesome! Everybody, give them a round of applause! (yay!)
Oh, and also, "havering" is a word, even though MS Word and both refuse to recognize it as such- it means talking loosely- saying silly, foolish, or just plain stupid things. You'll know what I'm talking about in a few minutes.
X
XIX
XIXIX "Choosing Sides" XIXIX
It was an ocean of thoughts, memories, ideas, and intentions. Harry swam through them like a jellyfish, reaching out with long tendrils, sucking them in and moving on. He himself was as pliant as the memories. He was translucent against them. They flowed in and out of his consciousness as though they belonged there—as though he belonged there.
But he was poison to that on which he fed, and everything he reached for slipped away. Each plan that he wanted, each name he searched for, each location he journeyed to find was gone before he could grasp hold of it.
'Where am I?' he wanted to know. He melted into his knowledge of self, but though he clung to it fiercely, his sense of his physical location was pulled away from him.
"Ah, there you are, boy," he said aloud.
Harry looked down into the pensieve and knew that something was not right. There was a tinge of magic that was not quite his own. It had to belong to that blasted boy.
He smiled triumphantly. "Thought you'd come spy on the enemy, eh?" He rose to his full height, carefully picked up his pensieve, and walked purposefully across the room. He placed the pensieve on top of his bureau and slowly lifted his gaze to eye level.
He stood staring at his snakelike features in the mirror. His reflection looked piercingly into him. He opened his thin lips and hissed in parsletongue, "Your time is coming to an end. And your professor is living on borrowed time. I own him, and he dies when so ever I decide."
Harry's fury welled at the thought of the failure of his Death Eaters to overcome schoolchildren. Severus Snape had a painful future of torture and eventual death awaiting him.
"And you needn't come back searching for information," he continued, his anger turning to a vindictive triumph. "I'll be holding my memories in a safer location from now on," he said, smiling nastily. He turned his head, sweeping his eyes across the room in the mirror's reflection, focusing on the perfect container for his thoughts.
Harry knew the boy in his head would be desperately trying to cling to that information. He raised his wand, and began to tug, and his thoughts spiraled once again.
"Stupify!"
The world went black.
Ginny crumbled to the floor, her head spinning. Small flashes of light played before her eyes as she drunkenly looked around the darkened room.
She shook her head, trying to clear the spell away, and slowly crawled forward.
"Merlin, Harry," she whispered. "What have you gotten yourself into?"
As the fog cleared from her head, she rose to her feet and tiptoed around the room to ensure everyone else was asleep. Finding that none of the sixth year boys were light enough sleepers to have awoken at her intrusion, she turned back to Harry. Filching through his trunk, she quickly found his invisibility cloak.
She pulled the covers down off his bed and with a wave of her wand, hissed, "Mobilicorpus!" and Harry's unconscious form levitated lightly into the air.
Quickly wrapping the invisibility cloak around him, she slipped from his room, down the stairs, through the common room, and then out of Gryffindor Tower, carefully guiding the floating Harry all the way.
"Tootsie pop," she whispered, and the gargoyle leapt aside.
XIXIX
Ginny was curled on the floor in the corner, nursing a cup of tea when Severus stormed into the office.
"What happened?" he asked sharply, quickly rushing to Harry, who was laid out on a big squashy couch that Dumbledore had conjured.
"I stunned him," said Ginny evenly.
"Don't be ridiculous! Twins can't stun each other!"
"I did it to protect him!" she shot, feeling both helpless and infuriated at once.
"Severus," said Dumbledore calmly. "Harry apparently used the potion tonight in order to find out if Voldemort had any more plans for attack."
"Idiot boy!" hissed Severus. "I'm going to kill him."
Ginny was on her feet, her teacup shattering on the floor. In an instant, she was across the room with her wand pointed down at Severus. "You stay away from him," she intoned threateningly.
Severus stared at her blankly.
"That's enough, Ginny," said Dumbledore soothingly.
Ginny jumped and looked around as though only just realizing where she was. She lowered her wand and then sunk to the floor, resting her head against Harry's knees on the couch. "I can't believe this," she mumbled. "What are we going to do?"
"What happened?" repeated Severus, but this time he spoke with a quiet fear as he watched Ginny's unnatural behavior.
"Ginny awoke feeling that something was wrong with Harry, like he was changing."
"Becoming evil," said Ginny faintly. "Becoming Voldemort. So I went to his room and stunned him to bring him out of it."
Severus looked from Harry to Ginny, his mind working fast. "Are you sure it wasn't just Legilimency?" he asked.
Ginny nodded. "I haven't even felt it the other times he's done Legilimency, although, granted, he's not done much since we've been twins. But I know the feeling of Tom Riddle in your mind. Harry was not in control."
"The Dark Lord possessed him, then?" said Snape, not wanting to believe it possible even with Harry's recent state of mental confusion.
"No… It was more like whatever memories Harry saw in Voldemort's head, he absorbed until they became his own."
Snape swore and turned to Dumbledore. "Albus, what can we do? If he has absorbed the Dark Lord into himself, we can't very well give him his wand and ask him to kindly slip that part of himself into a pensieve and not curse us to oblivion."
"Harry doesn't need his wand to do magic," said Ginny despondently. "We can't wake him up at all."
"We don't know the extent of the damage done," said Dumbledore reasonably. "The change you felt may have ended when you severed the link with Voldemort. We may find there is in fact nothing to worry about."
"Are you willing to risk that?" asked Severus.
"Actually," said Dumbledore, "I was rather hoping you would tell me that it was possible for you or Ginny to use that potion to contact him while he is unconscious. Perhaps we won't have to risk anything."
Before Severus could open his mouth to respond, he and Ginny both jumped and turned around to Harry's unmoving form.
"Harry?" asked Severus quietly.
Ginny gently took Harry's hand. She pressed the symbols of their twin bond together and took a deep breath, focusing on Harry, trying to get a feel for him.
Slowly, she smiled. "I think he's okay," she said, turning to Dumbledore. She frowned suddenly when she saw he had his wand trained on Harry, but she knew it was probably a good idea until they were certain.
They sat in silence for several minutes while Harry slowly bubbled into consciousness. Ginny and Severus were both focused intensely on the young man and any thoughts or feelings that they could connect to. And each of them relaxed more the closer Harry came to waking.
Finally, he squeezed Ginny's hand and opened his eyes. He looked down to his twin.
"Ginny, you stunned me," he groaned quietly.
She nodded with a faint smile.
Harry turned to Severus. "I told you she was crafty and would find a way to attack me."
Severus' face was blank for a moment, but then he smiled. "Yes, you did."
"How are you feeling, Harry?" asked Dumbledore clearly.
"Dirty," replied the slightly dazed youth. "I want a shower, but I think I really just need my pensieve. You're not going to believe this."
XIXIX
Ginny and Harry sat cross-legged on the couch, facing each other. They held each other's hands tightly and focused exclusively into the other's eyes. It was for protection, really. Severus had gone to get the pensieve. Dumbledore sat across the room, ready in case something should happen.
Focusing solely on his twin, Harry could feel the part of him that was his own self. Any other way, Harry felt the snake rearing within him, and had to struggle hard against the almost overwhelming compulsion to kill Dumbledore and Severus.
When Severus returned, he slid the pensieve onto Harry and Ginny's ankles, and Harry pulled out his wand, still focused on Ginny's eyes.
"I'm sorry to taint your memories like this, Sev," he said without humor, adding, "But I guess it is preferable to slaughtering you."
Harry took a deep breath, and slowly shifted his focus to the well of fury and murderous intent—the passions of Voldemort that he found himself struggling so hard to control. Ginny gripped his other hand tighter as she felt the change within him. She was afraid she was going to lose him.
But Harry maintained his control long enough to touch his wand to his head, and gently pull it all away.
As the wisp settled into the pensieve, Ginny caught Harry's eye and asked, "Is that all of it?"
"No," said Harry. "But I'm keeping the rest."
"Bloody hell, Harry, no!" she snapped. "You get that sick son-of-a-bitch out of your head right now!"
Harry smiled. "Ginny, I've been in his head before. I've known a lot about him for a while. There's no harm in what I've kept. I took all the bad things out."
But Ginny was livid. "Harry," she said acidly, "There are only bad things about him. I'll not be bonded to the fucker that used me to try to kill people."
Harry glowered. "I am not him," he said darkly. "And there are things about him which are not bad. Take away the psychopath part, and he's just some wizard trying to make the world better. But in order to conquer the psychopath, it's useful to me to know the wizard underneath."
"Would you mind filling us in on your conversation?" said Severus dryly.
Ginny turned to him and pointed at Harry. "He's trying to tell me that What's-His-Name isn't all bad."
"Call him by his name, Ginny," said Harry sternly.
"Voldemort!" she screamed. "I'm not afraid of his name, Harry! I thought you would know that. But that arsehole does not deserve a name like that—that inspires so much fear and awe! He's a sick, twisted, common criminal with delusions of grandeur. The only thing that sets him apart is his willingness to do horrific things to anyone and everyone, and I will NOT have you havering on about how he's not so bad, once you get to know him!"
"Actually, Ms. Weasley," said Severus calmly, "You've got that backwards. I joined the Dark Lord because the ideals and principles he espouses are intelligent and largely protective of the wizarding world. It's once you get to know him that you realize that he is 'sick', 'twisted', and has 'delusions of grandeur.'"
"And Ms. Weasley," added Dumbledore, "Do not make the mistake of underestimating Voldemort. He is a very powerful wizard, and a force to be reckoned with."
"But that doesn't mean Harry should start absorbing him into himself!" snapped Ginny.
"But it could be useful to me," said Harry softly. "I'm very familiar with Voldemort's wrath. I've experienced it first-hand. I'm not keeping anything dangerous. I just want to understand him."
Ginny bristled and glared at him. "I know you, Harry. Anyone or anything you understand you come to care for. If you dive into Voldemort's psyche…" she trailed off, looking for the right words. "How are you going to kill him if you love him?"
Harry didn't have an answer for that. But he was rescued when Dumbledore spoke up.
"Harry, do you think you might tell us what happened tonight?"
Harry turned to look at him, glad for the temporary reprieve. He smiled awkwardly, thinking darkly, 'Well, it turns out that I'm not ready to practice Legilimency on Voldemort.' But then visions of Ginny and Severus attacking him filled his head, and he decided he should try a more clinical approach.
"Voldemort's removing his memories from his head and placing them in another, safer, receptacle."
Harry watched the other's faces go blank as they assimilated this news.
"Where?" asked Dumbledore.
"I don't know," said Harry. "He took that thought from his head as soon as I grabbed it—and since I was in his head, it left my consciousness as well."
"So he knew you were there?" asked Severus.
"He knew after your defection that in all likelihood you had not created a potion to sever the link between him and me. So he was removing all vital information when I was there. Then he noticed a twinge of magic in one of the memories that was not his own, and surmised it to be mine."
"But he didn't actually feel your presence then?" Severus clarified.
"No. I don't even want to think about what would have happened if Voldemort had realized what bad shape I was in, and had actually tried to take charge of me."
"Harry, if you try something like that again," said Ginny, "I'll kill you, myself."
"Which may actually be possible," mused Severus, "Since she was able to stun you."
Dumbledore turned a thoughtful eye to Ginny and asked, "Considering how strong your bond is, Ginny, how is it that you weren't knocked out by the curse as well?"
"By will alone," said Ginny with a look on her face like she never wanted to do that again. "I almost was, but I had to help Harry."
Harry squeezed her hand, and for the first time ever, purposefully used the twin language to say, "Thanks Ginny. You really saved my life. I was in over my head."
"Give it time, bro," she said back. "You're way more powerful than he is. He better not win because you do something stupid."
She was joking, of course, but Harry felt the full weight of her words, and the impact was almost brutal.
XIXIX
Harry didn't have trouble in his classes anymore. He remembered everything Severus had learned when he was in school—and the man had been more of a perfectionist bookworm than even Hermione. So Harry charmed the prophecy charts so that they blended into his class notes, and he poured over them whenever he found his class work to be boring.
Ginny had done a brilliant job cross-referencing the prophecies by category and outcome, and as Harry sat in class pretending he was paying attention, he began to formulate predictions of what might come to pass.
Based on what he knew of Voldemort, the outcomes where he came out victorious but still went on to destroy the whole of the wizarding world, and much of the muggle world, simply did not make sense. Sure, Voldemort had no problem torturing and killing people in the most gruesome of ways, but his ultimate goal was not annihilation. It was domination. Voldemort wanted to gain control of the world so that he could enforce his will upon it, and his will was to create his concept of utopia—muggles bowing down to wizards bowing down to Voldemort.
So in what way did it make sense for him to go about killing all of his subjects?
But then Harry noticed that mentions of betrayal abounded, and it suddenly occurred to Harry that Voldemort was under the delusion that his future subjects still fought against him because they had not yet been properly persuaded. Harry knew this for a fact. He had already experienced the warped sense of love Voldemort felt for the people he killed.
Harry sat in class and pulled up the knowledge, the feelings, and the memories he had taken from the Dark Lord, and he began to imagine what would happen if, in a battle of magnificent proportions, Voldemort looked around and realized the world was against him. If he did manage to kill Harry, he could kill Dumbledore. He could kill anyone. And he would. He would seek vengeance against the world for betraying him by not serving him. It would feel like betrayal to him. And Voldemort did not take kindly to betrayal.
XIXIX
"Find anything today?" asked Hermione at dinner.
"Yeah," said Harry wryly. "Voldemort wants to kill everyone because he loves them."
Ron snorted into his food. "Well that's just about the most fucked up thing I've ever heard!"
Ginny eyed Harry suspiciously. 'Don't feel sorry for him,' she thought to him. 'He's a murderous bastard no matter what his mummy and daddy did to him.'
"What do you mean, Harry?" asked Hermione.
Harry looked at Ginny warily. She was not going to like this one. "First of all, this is in the 'Voldemort wins' scenario. He's standing over my lifeless body, and it finally dawns on him that the world thinks he's a horrendous fuck-up. That doesn't jive with his own self-concept of course, so he decides that the world has betrayed him because they should love him, and he goes off on a murderous rampage."
"Bloody hell," said Ron. "Dude's got some issues."
"Well that's in the Voldemort wins scenario," said Hermione, rolling her eyes at Ron. "Did you find anything about how to keep that scenario moot?"
Harry avoided Ginny's eye. "No. Not today."
XIXIX
That night, he and Ginny slipped underneath the invisibility cloak and headed down to the dungeons.
'Hermione hasn't found anything about destroying souls,' thought Ginny to Harry. 'I think we should spend our free time this weekend scouring the Restricted Section. All of us.'
'I agree,' thought Harry. 'Hermione is the best at research, but it couldn't hurt to have more people looking.'
'You should talk to Dumbledore about the Department of Mysteries,' thought Ginny.
'They'll let us know if they find something about the prophecies, won't they?'
'I don't know. I'd like to think so, but I meant about destroying souls. If there is magic capable of it, they should know about it right?'
'Who knows?' smirked Harry. 'For all we know, they really just spend their days playing cards and twiddling their thumbs.'
Ginny grinned, 'And their reputation just comes from the mystery?'
Harry shrugged with a sly smile, and hissed in parsletongue, "We're here to see Professor Snape."
"I'll tell him you're here, invisible one," replied the stone serpent.
After a moment, Severus opened the door, and Harry and Ginny entered. They settled in the sitting area with tea and scones and soon had begun the process of trying to sort through the mess that was Harry's brain.
Harry needed to get his Legilimency skills back up to par. He had practiced a little with some of the students during class—and had had very little difficulty. So he surmised that the problem was that it was the bond with Voldemort that caused Harry to take any memories he saw from Legilimency and weave them into his own memories. It was much the same as what had happened with the possession of Severus, except that Harry was not possessing Voldemort.
This was a major problem. Especially now that Harry had talked Severus into retiring from his role as spy, he needed to be able to find out what Voldemort was planning. He needed to find out what attacks were coming up. And he needed to find out what Voldemort was doing to himself and his memories and if Harry could get around it somehow.
So his plan was to practice Legilimency on the other two people to whom he was bonded.
Severus set up the pensieve nearby, and Harry sat down with Ginny. She didn't have any Occlumency shields up, and it occurred to Harry that perhaps she should.
'Ginny, do you want me to teach you Occlumency and Legilimency?' he thought to her.
'Sounds like a plan, bro. Have you started yet?'
'Just now. I'm about to dive into your childhood. Anything you want me to avoid?'
She smiled. 'I think you and I are beyond secrets, don't you agree?'
Harry grinned, and dove in.
XIXIX
"Well?" asked Severus, when Harry finally turned away.
Harry shook his head in disappointment. "No good," he said. "Now I remember when I used to be a little girl."
Severus scowled. "Can you tell what's different?" he asked.
Harry shook his head. "No. I'm doing the same things I was doing with the other students today, but once I view a memory with Ginny, it becomes mine. Speaking of which, Ginny," he turned a raised eyebrow to his twin, "Prince Harry Potter and Princess Cantara?"
Ginny looked at him blankly for a second, and then suddenly burst into a fit of giggles. "Oh Merlin!" she laughed, blushing crimson, "I completely forgot those existed!"
Harry laughed with her. "I can't believe those existed!"
Severus gave the two an unimpressed glare and Harry realized he had been left out of the conversation.
"Sev," he said, still laughing, "Did you know there were children's books written about me?"
"A whole line of them!" squealed Ginny. "The dashing Prince Harry and… oh, whatever! Fill in a cookie-cutter story. There was always a beautiful princess he falls in love with and a dark magic creature that he conquers at the end!"
"And you read them!" accused Harry playfully.
"I was five!" giggled Ginny defensively.
"No excuse! You were obsessed with those stories!"
"Harry, you were the dream and fantasy of every little girl in our generation. Still are, if your fan club is any indication."
"As fun as it is to reminisce about girlhood fantasies," snapped Severus sternly, "I do believe we have a slight problem with our young Mr. Potter remembering himself to have once been female."
Far from having the intended effect of startling Harry and Ginny back into work-mode, the two crumpled on the floor, laughing hysterically. Severus tried not to smile.
XIXIX
"So why Malfoy anyway?" whispered Ron at breakfast on Thursday.
Harry looked quickly down to his food, realizing that he had been watching the blond across the room. He glanced up at Ron who was looking from Harry to Malfoy and back to Harry with his brow furrowed as though he just couldn't make sense of the situation.
Harry shrugged. "He's funny. He's smart. He's good-looking." Ron made a face, but Harry said reasonably, "You have to admit that. He is."
Ron looked back to the Slytherin table but didn't say anything. Harry took the lack of insults as a show of defeat.
"And, well, we're a lot alike, actually. We see the world the same way, and he's good to talk to."
"But he's always insulting you," argued Ron.
"He has to," said Harry. "We made a deal about it. He can insult me but not you guys. That way he can still be the arse everyone expects, and I don't have to worry about what he's saying about my friends."
Ron looked thoughtful. "You know, it has been awhile since he's called 'Mione a you-know-what."
Harry nodded. "His gift to me. He's really not a bad guy, you know."
"Yeah, whatever," said Ron. "Do you trust him, though?"
Harry turned back to his food. "I want to. Ask me again later."
"Ginny still hates him," said Ron quietly.
"I know," sighed Harry. "But she's doing her best to be supportive because she knows how I feel about him. In fact," he dropped his voice to an even lower whisper and leaned in to Ron, "I have a feeling if we don't get a handle on blocking the twin bond better, she's going to wind up in love with him too."
Ron cut a look to Ginny and said, "That'll be the day. Of course, a week ago, I would've said the same about you. I'm sorry, Harry. But this whole thing is just…"
"I know," Harry repeated. "At this point, if you can just try not to kill him, and of course not tell anyone, I won't ask for more."
Ron gave Harry a sly look. "At this point," he said. "I'm not promising more."
Harry caught the glint in his eye and grinned, "Thanks, mate."
Ron nodded, and they both looked up when they heard a flutter of wings.
"Bugger! Not again," groaned Ginny.
"What?"
"The Git's owl."
Percy's owl swooped down and dropped two letters on the table before them, and flew off without waiting for any treats or replies. Ron grabbed the letters and handed one to Ginny.
They quickly read through them.
"What does he want?" asked Harry. "If he's still trying to save you from me, you can write him back and tell him it's officially too late."
Ginny smirked at him, 'Keep your voice down! The twin bond's a secret, Harry. Remember?' Then she said aloud, "He wants to meet us at the next Hogsmeade weekend. All of us."
"Really?" asked Hermione, unfolding her newspaper.
"Yeah," said Ron, staring at the letter. "I think he wants to make amends."
"Really!" asked Harry.
"Seems so," said Ginny. "I guess with the recent attacks…"
"And Bill's loss," added Ron sadly.
"That he wants to make up with us," finished Ginny.
"That's great," said Harry firmly. "So we'll go—all of us. Right, Hermione?"
"Absolutely!" she said.
"You're going too?" asked Ron. "After all the shit he did to you and said about you?"
"Ron, he's family," said Harry, not realizing he had just officially claimed the Weasleys as his family.
That was when Hermione gasped, "We won!"
All around the Great Hall, people were gathering around newspapers reporting the good news that Voldemort's latest "…large-scale attack was successfully fought back thanks to the foreign aid coming from North and South America," read Hermione out loud. "Just days after a devastating attack in Salem, Massachusetts, Ministry Officials from around the world, in conjunction with the Order of the Phoenix, led by Albus Dumbledore, have begun to work together with a series of warnings, alarms, and alerts that notify witches and wizards from all over when there is an attack by You-Know-Who's infamous Death Eaters."
"Must be like the 'galleon calls'," said Ginny.
"Kosovo was flooded with witches and wizards from at least eight different countries, each of whom have independently pledged to fight until He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and his Death Eaters have been stopped."
"Amazing," said Harry. "Nicolas and Perenelle are really doing it."
"Ha!" said Ron almost triumphantly. "That's why Percy's writing now. It finally occurred to him that the Order's not just a bunch of loonies."
"Don't be silly, Ron," said Hermione. "Of course we're a bunch of loonies."
Ron grinned at his girlfriend, flung his arm around her shoulder, and kissed her on the cheek. "This calls for a celebration!" he declared. "Let's skip all our classes!"
"Ronald Weasley, don't you dare!" shot Hermione, with a horror-struck look on her face.
Harry and Ginny burst out laughing.
XIXIX
Harry managed to speak with Dumbledore before the DA meeting that night, and Dumbledore confirmed Ginny's suspicions that the alerts mentioned in the article were indeed very much like the 'galleon calls'.
"We've actually gotten a lot of ideas from the DA," said Dumbledore with his eyes twinkling. "Angelina Johnson is head of the greatest of our aerial assault teams. There are five. And Moody has been working on mass illusion charms so that we can conceal our numbers, which works to our benefit both when we have more fighters and when we have less."
"That's great, sir," said Harry.
"Indeed it is. It seems as though young minds have fresh ideas. We're just lucky to be able to borrow some."
Harry also asked Dumbledore if the Department of Mysteries might know of some way to reverse whatever magic Voldemort had done that seems to have made it impossible to kill him both body and soul. Dumbledore told him that he would inquire on the matter, but Harry got the distinct impression that there was something Dumbledore was not telling him.
The DA was in a much better mood that night than they had been on Tuesday, and they worked harder than ever before. Harry had a feeling that, the reality of the war having been firmly driven into them, they were all going to respond to the 'galleon calls' and would not hesitate to fight in a real battle should one ever come to Hogwarts.
Harry made a point to shake hands with and talk for some time with each of the four Slytherins who Voldemort had tried to set up in his attempt on Severus' life. He asked them if the Ministry had treated them all right, and assured them that sometimes the Aurors were just bastards, and he was sure it was nothing personal.
"Harry," said Luna as Harry made his way through the room. "Might I have a word with you?"
Harry nodded, glancing over her group. He was surprised at how much discipline Luna inspired in her platoon, when most of the time she looked more like she had wandered in front of them by accident than being their declared leader. But Phoenix was a formidable platoon, all the more so with Crabbe as a member. Ginny had mentioned that he tended to scare the others into perfect submission to Luna's will—not that she had had a problem with that previous to his joining.
Luna took Harry by the arm and led him to the corner of the room, and dropped her voice.
"What is it, Luna?" asked Harry quietly, concerned by her forceful behavior.
Luna cocked her head suddenly, looking at him searchingly. "You've changed, you know?" she said.
Harry nodded rolling his eyes a bit. "People keep saying that."
"Because it's true, Harry. I think you're older now than you were before."
Harry imagined people giggling if they had heard Luna say that, but he knew exactly what she meant, and moreover, she was right.
"Anyway, my dad had a reporter out doing a story on the migration habits of the winged snarkblatzes, and the reporter came back with news of a migration of all sorts of dark creatures from around the globe—all headed toward England." Luna's eyes were uncharacteristically focused on Harry as she spoke.
"Are you sure, Luna?"
Luna leaned forward, her eyes wide. "Harry, something terrible is coming. And with the Death Eater attacks lately… I thought you should know."
Harry looked down and away, thinking hard. "What sort of creat—"
A loud bang sounded throughout the room as the door slammed shut. Harry and Luna turned, and Harry noted with satisfaction that nearly everyone in the room had their wands trained on the door.
The room was nearly silent for a moment until Luna called out, "Where's Vince?"
Harry swept the room with his eyes, but he did not see Crabbe. He did, however, catch Malfoy's eye and raise a single, questioning eyebrow. Malfoy nodded and looked away.
XIXIX
Harry lay back on his elbows, looking up at the stars. He had been out by the lake for quite awhile, and was beginning to wonder if Malfoy was really going to come. Finally, he heard the familiar footsteps behind him. He expanded his consciousness out into the night air and touched upon Malfoy's magic, pleased at the feel of him.
Malfoy lay down in the grass next to him, his hands behind his head. They lay there quietly for a long while, not moving, until eventually Malfoy asked in a hard tone, "So why did you ask me out here?"
Harry smirked, still looking up at the sky. "Better things to do, have we?" he asked lightly.
"I've got a million better bloody things to do than lie on damp grass in silence. So if you've got something to say to me, go ahead and bloody say it!"
Harry took a slow breath, allowing the words to fade into the night, before rolling over and catching Malfoy in a deep kiss. "Malfoy," he breathed into him. He slid up next to him so that their bodies were aligned. Malfoy didn't fight the kiss, but he didn't push himself into it. Harry pulled back.
"Potter," said Malfoy, holding his eye, "You trust me or you don't. You can't have it both ways."
Harry smiled and said with a light sarcasm, "I can't have it both ways? That's sweet."
Malfoy sneered. "Oh, I think you have it in more ways than you'd care to admit."
Harry eyed him suspiciously. "Is this about Snape?" he asked, careful not to use his first name.
"Interesting question," said Malfoy, sitting up. "Strange you should automatically think of him."
"Right," said Harry, growing rather exasperated. "How's Pansy, by the way?"
Malfoy smiled with a sick satisfaction. "So that is what this is about," he said.
"I don't know what this is about," said Harry. "Why don't you tell my why you're being so—" He cut off, feeling as though he had been kicked in the gut with a sudden realization. His voice was hoarse as he asked, "Have you made your choice then?"
The next moment stretched into eternity as Harry waited for Malfoy to tell him he had chosen his father.
"Sod off, Potter! I told you I needed time!" spat Malfoy, and Harry breathed a sigh of relief.
"I thought you were… never mind." Harry looked away. "What's wrong?"
When he turned back to Malfoy, he was glaring at him, seething. "You told your friends about me, didn't you?"
'Oh shit,' thought Harry, suddenly feeling panicked.
Ginny must have felt the change in his emotions, because she thought to him, 'What's wrong?'
"Yes, I told them," said Harry.
'Oh shit,' thought Ginny.
"Are you trying to get me killed?" demanded Malfoy. "If word gets around school, it's going to get back to Voldemort—"
"You're worried about Voldemort!" shot Harry. "Tell me something, Malfoy, how're your Occlumency lessons going with Severus!"
'Low blow, Harry. You better curb your temper.'
'Stay out of this!'
Malfoy glowered and made to get up, but Harry caught his arm and pulled him back down. "It was Voldemort who ordered Severus to teach you guys Occlumency, but Severus doesn't follow him anymore, does he? Tell me, Malfoy, have you even spoken to your godfather since the Death Eaters tried to kill him? Do you think he's going to keep teaching you a skill you can use against us?"
Malfoy tried to break away, but Harry held him strong and dropped his voice as he said, "Do you think you can stand up to Voldemort's Legilimency, or do you think he's just not going to care that you've been shagging his greatest enemy?"
Malfoy stopped struggling and just looked at Harry. Harry knew his words would probably bring the desired result, but he also knew that Malfoy was floundering for control, which he would not likely take kindly to.
'Say something, Harry,' warned Ginny, 'Or he's going to blow.'
Too late.
"You think I'm so weak, Potter, that you have to protect me!" he spat. "Maybe you just prefer someone with a bit more experience." He broke free from Harry's grasp and snarled, "I don't need you to baby sit me, and you sure as hell don't seem to need me." He got up and stormed off, yelling over his shoulder, "Say Hi to Severus for me!"
"Bloody hell!" Harry slammed his hand into the grass, turning away from Malfoy's retreating figure to look out over the lake.
'Go after him, Harry.'
"I told you to stay out of it!" snapped Harry aloud.
'Trust me on this one. He wants you to go after him, and if you don't, you might not get another chance.'
Harry growled, staring at nothing. "Damn it!" he cursed, jumping up to run after Malfoy who was already entering the castle.
He slammed his way through the door and saw Malfoy near to the other end of the Main Hall. His shoes squeaked against the marble floor as he ran. Malfoy stopped and turned around. He paled as soon as he saw Harry running toward him, and looked about for witnesses.
"What the fuck are you doing?" he hissed, as Harry grabbed him and pulled him into the nearest classroom.
Harry closed the door behind him and cast a silencing spell on the room. Panting, he rounded on Malfoy. Malfoy's face was a cold mask, but Harry was familiar with it and didn't let it deter him as he breathed out, "I don't need you, Malfoy. I can do this without you—and I will if I have to. But I want you. I want you on my side. I want you… to choose me."
He stepped forward and grabbed Malfoy up in another kiss, and this time Malfoy responded. He pushed Harry back against the door, pressing his body into the Gryffindor, kissing hard, dragging his teeth across Harry's open mouth.
Then, as suddenly as it had begun, Malfoy pulled away. He pushed Harry away from the door and left through it.
XIXIX
Harry made his way angrily across the common room. When Ginny, Ron, and Hermione looked up, he realized that he had been stomping. He threw himself into the chair next to Ginny and put his head down on the table.
After a long silence, Ron said, "Well…"
Harry sat up abruptly and cut him off. "I don't want to talk about it," he said. "What are you guys working on?"
"Killing souls," said Ginny grimly. "This is really sick stuff, you know that?"
"We can't find any concrete and documented magic that has ever successfully destroyed a soul," said Hermione. "The closest we've come up with so far is the legend of how the Dementors came to be."
"What's that?" asked Harry curiously.
"Well, at some unspecified time 'long ago', some unspecified dark wizard was trying to destroy souls. He thought he had succeeded, but his 'experiments' were forever hungering for souls that they themselves did not have. They eventually ate his."
Harry shuddered at the thought of the Dementor's kiss. "Such vile creatures," he said.
"Yeah, but too bad they're on Voldemort's side. If they worked for the Order, we could sic 'em after Voldemort," said Ron.
"Ron," said Ginny sarcastically, "I think What's-His-Name is capable of the Patronus Charm."
"I was just saying that—"
Harry groaned and got up, in no mood to listen to his friends bicker. "Guys, I'm going to bed. What do you say we go to the library on Saturday to work on this?"
They looked up at him and nodded, their eyes showing varying levels of concern and annoyance.
"I'm sorry," he said. "I know I'm being a prat. But I can't work on this right now."
Hermione smiled and said, "No problem, Harry. Get some sleep."
Harry made his way to the stairs, but then turned around and caught Ginny's eye. "Thanks, by the way, for earlier."
Ginny smiled her 'you're welcome', but she wasn't entirely sure she should be helping Harry to win over Malfoy—not if he was going to be distracted and in a bad mood all the time.
XIXIX
Harry was indeed distracted and in a bad mood all day Friday, but he did his best to hide his temper from his friends, who in turn pretended not to notice when it slipped through a bit.
Friday night they wordlessly agreed to enjoy themselves, knowing they had a hard weekend ahead of them. Between homework, researching disheartening subjects, and a 'galleon call' on Sunday, there would not be a whole lot of time for rest and relaxation during their two-day break from classes.
Ron and Dean played chess while Harry, Ginny, Lavender, Seamus, Hermione and Neville played a game of exploding snap. At one point, Harry glanced over to a group of first years and longed for the days when the Weasley twins would keep everyone entertained by playing pranks on the younger students. So he took it upon himself to casually leave a few Canary Creams on a table not too far from them.
The mood was light that night, and Harry enjoyed the temporary reprieve from his other worries. He slept well.
Saturday, he woke up early and headed down to breakfast with Ginny, Ron, and Hermione. They wanted to have a full day to spend in the library, and didn't expect many of the students would yet be up.
As they neared the Great Hall, Harry felt rather than heard footsteps behind him of other students making their way to breakfast. Hermione and Ron were walking ahead of him, bickering about the relative usefulness of enchanted quills for research purposes, when Harry most definitely heard another set of footsteps running toward them.
"Potter! Look out!"
Harry turned and dodged a stunning spell that was coming his way. It hit Hermione in the back. Ron caught her as she toppled forward like a rag doll.
Harry and Ginny turned on their attackers, wands drawn and ready. Crabbe and Goyle were advancing on them. Crabbe had a notebook in his left hand.
"Stupify! Accio notebook!" Harry looked up and saw Malfoy running up down the hallway, casting spells on Crabbe and Goyle. Goyle hit the floor with a thud, and Crabbe's notebook flew out of his hand toward Malfoy, who dodged it rather than catching it.
Crabbe fell to his knees, finding himself at the business end of three wands.
"You don't deserve her, Potter," he said thickly. "Luna belongs with me."
"Crabbe, you moron!" Ginny shouted, stepping so that she was partially blocking Harry from him. "Of course Luna loves you! This," she said, indicating the situation they were in, "Is exactly why she won't go out with you!"
"She's with Potter!" he protested.
"I am with Potter, you stupid fuck!" snapped Malfoy.
Harry and Crabbe both looked to him with eyes wide, but then they all turned when a shriek alerted them that someone else was in the hallway.
"You!" screamed Pansy. "So help me, Draco Malfoy, I will kill you for this!" She raised her wand and said, "Avada—"
"Expelliarmus!" yelled Harry automatically without raising his wand. Pansy's wand flew to him and he caught it deftly. Their wands were now all turned to her. She looked panicked for a moment, but then dove toward the notebook.
"No!" shouted Malfoy as she wrapped her fingers around it and disappeared. He ran a few steps toward her, but it was too late. "Fuck!" he yelled, turning to punch the wall.
"What the hell just happened!" yelled Ron, still holding the slowly reviving Hermione.
"That was a portkey," yelled Malfoy back. "Took her directly to the Dark Lord. Crabbe and Goyle were supposed to stun you and take you to him," he said to Harry.
"Bloody hell," said Ron. Ginny and Harry looked at each other as the gravity of the situation finally hit them. They had thought the attack was just another spat of inter-House rivalry.
Malfoy stormed over to Crabbe and aimed his wand right at his heart. "Show me your Mark," he demanded. Crabbe sat there, stunned, and Malfoy yelled, "Show me the fucking Mark!"
Crabbe reached down and pulled up his left sleeve.
The doors to the Great Hall opened and Harry, Ginny, Malfoy and Ron all turned their wands to the newcomers, but lowered them at the sight of Dumbledore with several teachers.
Dumbledore swept over and looked down gravely at Crabbe, who seemed frozen in his position, revealing his Dark Mark.
Snape knelt down next to Goyle and pulled up his sleeve, revealing another.
McGonagall turned to Malfoy who pulled up his sleeve and said angrily, "Don't look at me, I'm not with them!"
Harry looked to him seriously, and quietly said, "You saved my life."
Malfoy dropped his scowl as he turned to Harry. "Yeah, well, hide me from my father, and we'll call it even."
XIXIX
XIX
X
A/N: Next chapter- More Harry/Draco! Yay! And let's see if we can't get the shit to hit the fan properly, eh?
I cannot tell you guys how much I enjoy your reviews, and I am firmly committed to answering them all, because I like it when people answer my reviews, and I'm not cool enough to have a group list so we can just email and talk back and forth. But, I got 50 reviews this chapter, so if some of my responses seem a bit short and shallow, that's why. Others are more in depth because of good points, questions, or fun silliness that I couldn't resist. I am by no means asking for less reviews. If I get a hundred, I will still respond to all of them, because you have no idea how much I love getting reviews- even if they're not entirely complimentary, or not complimentary at all- because I love knowing what my audience is thinking and if the questions you're asking are the ones I want you to be asking or things that I haven't even thought of. Thank you so much!
Shania Maxwell: Thank you!
Brenna8: Yeah, what a mess!
Relle: Ginny just cast a protective spell on you so you don't die from eating crayons. And Harry has asked me to remind you that if Ginny dies, part of him will die too. And Severus thinks that eating crayons is a disgusting and childish habit. And Ron thinks your drawings are great.
Flounder2: Have you been looking in my pensieve?
Dee dee: Harry's trying to get used to being part-Snape. Give him time. And as for Malfoy, I personally think you're right, but Harry got sick of all the games and guessing, and wouldn't listen to me. And there wasn't a character in the story that would back me up, so he's just kind of been doing his thing. But whatever, it's all working out now, right?
Wyall Jared: Oh, thank you! I'm glad you're enjoying the ride!
Nation El-Diablo: Mmm… roasted Esook… Care to share?
Rowenna: To help with the bond. And I hope that satisfied your craving for H/D?
Isis-mystic: Good question. I suppose the Death Eaters got in the same way Barty Crouch got in- however that was. But this time the wards were set up to negate polyjuice because they were anticipating an attack on the Flamels (as Harry found out in Voldemort's head earlier in the story). I was meaning to make that more official and less subtle, but um, didn't. My bad! Forgive me?
Marie Falcon: First of all, glad you like Ginny. I always love it when ppl like her. Second, I had to spend more time on the Harry/Snape relationship because it is important, and not a relationship that most readers will take for given (like Harry/Draco). I also had to consciously make the H/D relationship troubled, because most readers will automatically assume them to be soulmates from the outset, and that makes angst a little difficult. Third, no, I can't pair Snape up with someone his age. Not in this story. It has to be Harry, because there is no way I could expect Snape to be so lenient with allowing Harry to keep memories that 1) are his and personal, and 2) nearly killed Harry by driving him suicidal while comatose, and 3) are none of Harry's friggin' business. Even if they were friends. It had to be more than friendship, and Snape had to have realized that while he feared for Harry's life so that he would be much more willing to acquiesce to Harry's desires. Even if having Snape's skill and control might help him to vanquish Voldemort, Snape would never allow anyone to get that close to him if he didn't already feel that close to them. At least, that's the way I see it. Does that make sense?
DracoLuciusLover: Merlin, that would be so boring if nothing ever happened to Harry:) j/k Glad you like!
Sheree: That is some damn good advice, the whole honesty thing. But no one told Harry that, hence ongoing angst. And I hope I explained Ginny's change a little better this chapter. Her romantic feelings for Harry are receding, and even if she doesn't like Draco, Harry loves him. She said she needed time, and she's trying.
Headphone therapy: Can't he be both? (and I have to mention I laughed my ass off when I read your summation of Harry's new personality!)
Firestar: Thank you, and absolutely right!
Riantlykalopsic: Thank you!
Takuto-kun: Vielen Dank! Deutsch ist sehr schwierig für mich, aber ich versuche wenn ich haben Zeit. Ich freue mich Sie wie die Geschichte. Krankheit ist gut.
B: What in tarnation gave you that idea! The story is drawing to a close, and I admit it may be awhile before I start cranking out the sequel, but this will be a full story. Promise.
SheWolfe7: He sure does! Yay!
D EDMUN: Yup, me too. Thanks!
DracoInARaincoat: EEK! You number one must read! Serious? I'm blushing like mad! You're awesome! Thank you!
Slice: Love TQaF, but you know that, right? Glad you're digging dream-boy Potter. I do what I can, yo. Sorry for the cliffhanger, but I refuse to promise no more. And sorry 'bout the Pomfrey mental image. Couldn't help it. ;)
Ura: Thanks!
Kiki: Thanks!
Liber Creperum-Liber Diabolus: Many apologies, and many thanks.
Elebereth: Heehee, if Ginny and Draco get into a duel, Ginny will have an unfair advantage, because any spell Draco hits her with also hits her twin, so he'd perhaps be less inclined to fight full force than she.
Pure Black: Thanks!
Anni: Yeah, rock on! Thank you!
ScarletSerpent: heehee. First off, thank you. And secondly, I think the only plot bunny I wound up borrowing was the detention thing. And have no fear about me ending this like Blast From the Past. That ending is the very reason I started writing this story- I needed to make things better in my mind because I was far too upset when I finished the story. Very strong, emotional, powerful, and upsetting. But Fight the Future rocks, if you haven't started it. Highly recommended.
Tygrressatheart: a bit jealous? No, he's just hiding it well. He is Slytherin, after all.
Dracos-hot: Whoa! You are so totally awesome for saying that! The fact that something in my story reminded you of something so great, so well-written, so classically timeless and powerfully told… just tickles me pink! That was like, my favorite scene, too, in the trilogy, so, you just hit the jackpot with that one. I am yours forever. I know I am nothing near on par with Tolkien, but knowing that something I wrote even reminded you of something so great, wow. Best compliment. Thank you.
Sinilu silverspell: Forget it! I'm not posting any more chapters! Except, um, this one. And the next few. But after the story's done, forget it! Until the sequel. But then that's it! So help me, I will not tolerate vague insinuations of veiled threats! And that's final!
ManicReversed: Thanks!
Wintermoon2: Ooh! Glad you liked it! But really, it was nothing compared to your latest chapter in FtF. I mean, wow. Good luck with your end of term. If I can offer any assistance with distraction by fanfiction, just let me know. ;)
tWiSt3d: yeah, I was kind of hoping they'd do some more shagging too, but they got all these other issues bothering them, and then they argue, and their whole relationship is a mess, and honestly, if I was friends with either of them, I'd totally be telling them to just break it off, even if the sex is good. They just got so many things going against them, you know? Glad you're enjoying, though. And thanks.
Dragenphly: Thanks! I'm glad you enjoy it, even the rough bits.
Mainiac: Thank you. I'm glad you like it, and I'm pleased you're enjoying the ride.
Jaquelle: Thanks!
Verily: Mmm, Shiraz-Cabernet. That's the whole reason behind the cheese, baby.
Gwaeren: I sure HOPE I'm Kati, because I'm wearing her underwear. But thanks for asking! And yes, always let me know about mistakes. I've gotten less anal about them the longer the story gets ( I think I reposted Chapter One like five time, fixing minor errors- now I usually don't bother to go back unless they're glaring), but I do want to know because at some point, I really will get around to fixing it. Really. Glad you're enjoying it!
Mini-ricer: There, there.
Distraught soul: Not kidding with your name, are you? ;)
Madkornfan: Okay! Bye!
Anne Dragon Malfoy: Wow! Thank you!
Little Miss Imperfect: I do what I can, yo. I hope this chapter cheered you up a bit, because man, next chapter is going to be so intense and crazy! You're not even going to believe what's happening next chapter!
Charmed88: Well, thanks for joining! I hope you managed the wait as the minutes stretched on, but I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for the review!
Emeline: No, thank you lots! And I wish our wars really were like theirs- with a definite begin and end, and a single bad guy to take out. Because it's total bollocks when our leaders point to one person as if all the world's problems were caused by something so simple as one man. I'll stop. I'm about to rant, and we definitely don't need that here. But thanks for reading and reviewing. Glad you enjoy!