Chapter 21: "Hogwarts' Heirs Fail…"
A thick blanket of gray hovered over the grounds of Hogwarts castle. It was as though the lake had risen, raising everything a meter off the ground. In the forest, the lake rose even higher, making the trees nothing but shadows of giants. Leaning against the feet of one of these giants, curled in a ball and having a restless sleep, was Azar Zundel. Her cloak was wrapped tightly around her, the only protection against the cold. She'd come as the land began to darken the day before, and for once the forest seemed to welcome this sort of intruder, the trees remaining trees, instead of taking on some monstrous form. They knew a great burden rested on this creature's small shoulders, a burden far greater than the branches and leaves that their sturdy trunks held aloft.
She hadn't wandered much, simply settling on a spot near the great green field that lead to the vast stone edifice. Settled, however, could only be used in the loosest sense of the word, for once there, the girl constantly tossed and turned. She tried sitting and lying in many positions, none yielding sleep. That is, until the hard wind caused her to wrap within herself. It was only then that she leaned against her tree and closed her eyes in peace.
The stars slowly traveled through the night sky until the eastern horizon grew gray, then pink, then orange. A sliver of sun finally breached the distant hills, sending a shaft of light through the air and into the lake of the green field. It was amazing how that single beam reflected off the expanse of resting clouds. As the sun reached higher into the sky, it sent thousands more arrows into the world. These reflected again and again in the gray blanket, until all was simply reflection upon golden reflection, lake, mist, and stone alike. It was then one of the yellow arrows passed by Azar's eyes, and she slowly opened them. Her breath caught in her throat as her eyes grew wider, drinking in the sight. The whole world had turned to gold.
The arrows began to break the mist apart, the reflections dissolving at the same time. So soon Azar found herself looking at a green path to a stone castle, a few remaining wafts trying in vain to reflect with their former strength. She shifted the cloak, for the sun warmed her now, and, giving the tree a pat, she started down the ostensible path to the grand castle.
Within the building, all was still fairly dark. The torches had yet to be relit, and the sun was still trying to edge its way through the windows. Azar stood in the Entrance Hall a long time, trying to adjust to the new sight. She felt a gentle hand on her shoulder and instantly pulled away, spinning around to find Mr. Weasley looking anxious.
His wearied eyes shined with sympathy. "We've been worried about you, Azar."
"There was no need. I've simply been alone."
"I saw you walk out of the forest," Mr. Weasley said in a manner to make her weigh each word, "Have you been there all night?"
She gazed at him, unsure what exactly to say. She settled on the truth. "It just felt like the right place to go, somewhere no one would come searching. And I wanted to get out of this castle."
He gave a soft sigh, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You may be able to numb yourself with cold, but it doesn't work that way in deeper places."
Azar didn't answer, fearing what might come out.
"It wasn't your fault, you know," Mr. Weasley said gently, "When you get to my age, you learn to forgive yourself for the choices of the past in favor of those in the present."
Azar's eyes turned to the floor. "I know. I know I can't just dwell on this… I have to be strong, for Harry's sake."
Mr. Weasley grabbed both of Azar's shoulders firmly, causing the girl to look up in surprise. He gave her the sternest look she'd ever seen coming from his eyes.
"Harry has enough people being strong for him," he said evenly, "Be strong for your own sake."
She suddenly began to feel very small and very young. "I hardly know how," she choked out.
"No one does," he said gently, "Just remember this: no matter what joys or sorrows befall us, life does go on. You will have breakfast the next morning, and you will lie down to sleep when night comes. You will laugh, you will sing, and you will have homework in all your classes. Life never stops because you want it to. The world keeps on spinning, and if you try to wait along the wayside, you will get lost. And Azar, you were not meant to get lost."
She smiled weakly, gazing up at him. "Don't worry; I won't."
Mr. Weasley gave her shoulder a pat, his demeanor pleasant. "Care for an escort to the hospital wing? I was headed there myself."
Azar's face fell. "Oh, well, I was actually hoping to go there alone…to be there alone."
The man nodded understandingly. "Ah, no worries. I do have some business to take care of with the headmaster."
Azar squeezed his arm gratefully, then turned and started the long walk to the hospital wing. Once there, she stood in the doorway for a long time, staring into the room. Draco was caught in a tangle of sheets, the only thing saving him from tumbling to the floor. And in the bed beside him lay Harry, having either a less troubled or less lengthy sleep than his friend, judging by the condition of his sheets. On silent feet, she walked up to the side of his bed. Hearing a small splash, she glanced down at her feet to find a puddle, smaller than it was originally but still large enough to be noticed. She swilled the water a bit with her foot, spreading it out so as to dissipate it quicker.
Her eyes then turned to Harry. Azar stared at him for a while, then gently sat on the bed, one leg bent under her so she could still look at him. A small smile played on her lips a moment, and she leaned forward, giving him a kiss. He kissed back. She sat up and Harry looked just as he had before but for the grin on his face.
Without opening his eyes, he said, "I certainly hope this is who I think it is."
Azar grinned. "Yes, it is I, Severus Snape."
Harry gave a laugh, opening his eyes and sitting up. He reached a hand out to stroke her cheek, and she took it in both of her own so that it might find its destination easier. His other hand reached up too, cupping the other side of her face and gently fingering her hair. She gripped tightly to his hand, silent.
"You okay?" he asked.
"No. But I will be. We all will be."
Harry was silent at this, his emerald eyes fixed blankly on her face.
"It's strange," he said quietly, his thumb running along her jawline, "but it's almost as though I can see you. Everything else has faded, but you are as clear as ever."
Azar smiled softly, clasping his hand tighter. Her bottom lip quivered, though, her sight swimming. She blinked to hold it back, but one tear coursed down her cheek and onto Harry's palm.
"Hey," he said, gently brushing her damp cheek, "Don't cry. Please don't cry."
"I'm so sorry…"
"For what?"
"For making you go. None of this should have happened."
"It seems not many things should happen, but an awful lot do. I guess it's one of the side effects of living," he said with a smile.
"So you don't hate me for it?"
"I'll start hating you the day the moon crashes into the ocean and takes up surfboarding," he grinned.
She kissed him eagerly. "You are the most wonderful being to ever walk the earth!"
He lovingly passed a hand through her hair. "I'm afraid someone else in this room already has that title, and she's in no position to be dethroned."
Azar laughed, flopping on the bed. "Dear Rowena," she suddenly murmured, closing her eyes, "If this bed isn't the most heavenly thing there is."
"Have a rough night?" he asked, lying back and putting an arm around her.
"Ghastly," she answered, snuggling up to him, her eyes still closed.
"Mine, too."
She fell silent, one arm resting on Harry's chest in a hug. He gently rubbed her shoulder, but it wasn't long before even that simple movement ceased. They both were fading off into a sleep that would finally be peaceful.
"Mr. Potter! Miss Zundel!"
Azar's eyes snapped open to find that a shocked Madam Pomfrey was now in the room.
"Get up this instant!" she cried shrilly, not bothering to wait for Azar to comply. She snatched the girl up and out of the bed. "In all my years as this school's nurse, I've never…! And to think we worried the whole night about your whereabouts when you were here all along!"
"Madam Pomfrey, you don't understand, I was only—" Azar tried to hold it back but couldn't, sneezing in the nurse's face.
"And you're sick!" Madam Pomfrey cried, the list of crimes growing ever longer, "We are getting you in bed this instant, but not over here. You are going in the corner farthest from these boys, and your curtains will be permanently up!"
"Madam Pomfrey," Harry pleaded, gingerly getting to his feet and hoping he was gazing somewhere in her general direction, "Azar just came in this morning."
"Oh, so that makes matters better, does it?!"
"Honestly," Azar cried in exasperation, "I was just lying down with him and talking! It's no different than having a quiet talk with your mother!"
Madam Pomfrey's nostrils flared at this, her voice as shrill as a teapot. "Unless your mother happens to be a seventeen-year-old boy, it is very different!"
"Sorry to interrupt," came a voice, "but might I offer my observations?"
Draco Malfoy was sitting up in bed, watching the argument with some amusement. His covers were smooth now, something he'd clearly done while everyone else in the room was occupied.
"I woke several times during the night," he continued, "and not once did I see Azar even in the room."
Madam Pomfrey's eyebrows rose slightly. "And might I assume that you were not awake the entire night, or this morning?"
"Well, yes—I mean, no, I wasn't."
"Then you were not aware of everything that took place."
"That's because nothing took place!" Azar huffed, "We didn't do anything!"
"Miss Zundel, I come in here to find—"
"Madam Pomfrey, you are upsetting your patients," Draco tisked, smiling slightly, "It's so unlike you."
Madam Pomfrey looked far from pleased at this condescension, but a slight flicker in her eyes indicated that she actually took it to heart.
"Might I suggest a compromise?" Draco offered, "Azar could take the bed by me. Far enough from Harry for your tastes, I should say, but not banishing her to the deepest recesses of the room. Fair enough?"
Madam Pomfrey gazed at him calculatingly for a while, then turned to Harry and Azar. Azar tried to look pleading though not eager; she was sure that would only worsen the matter.
"All right, fine," Madam Pomfrey finally conceded, "But if I see anything suspicious—"
"We know, we know," Azar grumbled, "Not like you did in the first place."
Madam Pomfrey gave her a sharp look, but decided to ignore the comment. "I'll get you some pajamas, Miss Zundel, and then we'll see about that cold."
She bustled out of the room, Azar's eyes following her mutinously.
"What a nasty busybody," she huffed, folding her arms, "I doubt she has a life of her own, she's so busy running others'."
"If anything, she can only be accused of jumping to conclusions," Draco said simply, "Though whether founded or not is still to be determined."
Azar's eyes flashed in his direction. "Watch it."
Harry chuckled slightly, sitting on his bed. "This was interesting, but I say there's nothing that can top 'What would a peek hurt?'"
Azar collapsed to the floor in laughter. Draco raised an eyebrow, gazing at them. "The more I learn about your lives," he said with the hint of a smile, "the less I want to know."
Harry grinned and was about to comment when Azar's laughter turned into a hacking cough. Harry stood up sharply but hesitated, unsure he could help her without tripping. Thus Draco rushed over to her, gingerly patting her back.
"You really are sick," he said, surprised, as her attack subsided, "I thought you sneezed in Pomfrey's face for spite."
"Ew, no," Azar answered hoarsely, trying to clear her throat, "Believe me, this is real phlegm I'm hacking up."
"Where exactly were you last night?" Draco questioned.
"Well, if you must know, in the Forbidden Forest."
"All night?!" Harry cried.
"Oh, c'mon, I had a cloak."
"It was cold, Azar! You could be seriously ill."
"We're getting you in bed," Draco commanded, directing her to the bed beside his, "You need to be kept as warm as possible."
"C'mon, I'm already burning up as it is."
"Probably because you've got a fever," Draco said sternly, "I'll get Pomfrey in here as soon as I can."
Azar decided against whining further, allowing herself to be tucked in like a child. She didn't particularly mind; she was asleep the second her head hit the pillow. Draco went after Madam Pomfrey to tell her to bring some Pepperup potion. And Harry stood silently by his bed, feeling useless and alone.
****
"Albus is at the Ministry at the moment, Arthur, but I'm sure he'll be back soon," Professor McGonagall explained, gesturing for the man to take a seat.
"We seem to just keep missing each other," Mr. Weasley smiled amiably, glancing around the circular office that by now he knew every inch of.
"Yes, you are both constantly on the move. Thus I am stuck with the job of mediator," Professor McGonagall said, raising an eyebrow with a pleasant smile.
Mr. Weasley laughed, but there was something forced about it. His eyes were uneasy as silence settled in.
"I'm worried, Minerva," he finally said with a sigh.
"I suspected as much," she replied simply, waiting for him to elaborate.
"I'm worried about Bill. Minister is no easy job and I can see it wearing on him. And with the poison last week…" He took a deep sigh. "God, Minerva, that was so close. What if next time they succeed?"
Professor McGonagall pursed her lips. "The thing with plans like slipping poison in a cup is that they usually only have one chance to succeed. After that, more care is taken. …Have you told Ronald?"
Mr. Weasley shook his head wearily. "I don't feel it's necessary, especially after all that's happened to the Heirs. Ron is already stretched thin; he doesn't need another worry hanging over his head."
Professor McGonagall nodded, though she didn't really agree with him.
"He's been Minister for less than a year," Mr. Weasley continued on Bill, "and yet his face looks as though he's been so for seventy. He's too young for it, Minerva."
She smiled slightly. "So am I. I believe the only person not too young for the job is Albus, but he won't have it, so novices such as ourselves must take it on. Don't worry, Arthur; Bill will pull through marvelously."
Mr. Weasley smiled slightly, though he didn't really believe her. There was a long pause before Professor McGonagall spoke again.
"Has Ronald ever…told you about what he goes through in school?"
Mr. Weasley looked up at her, perplexed.
"No, I wouldn't suppose so," she murmured, "He does keep his feelings very secret. Throughout his school career, Ronald has always had more to worry about than any average student. He's always had a thousand things pulling at him, stretching him farther and thinner. However, no matter how far he's stretched, I have yet to see him break. You have a strong son, Arthur."
Some of the hopelessness faded from the man's eyes, and he smiled at the Deputy Headmistress, nodding.
"I know," he whispered.
Professor Dumbledore entered the office then and the conversation quickly turned to business.
****
Hermione sat in the common room, waiting. She'd been waiting most of the morning, since the sun rose. Not that she'd had much sleep. Images had ran through her head the entire night: Azar holding James' body, Harry sitting silent in the shadows, Draco quietly telling them what happened. They allowed no room for sleep.
Every step on the stair caused her to turn around hopefully, but to no avail. Ron hadn't come down. Hermione was starting to feel a bit impatient and practically leapt at Neville when he appeared. After assuring her that Ron was probably up in the dormitory still, and that he was pretty sure no one else was there, Hermione headed up to the boys' dorm.
Neville had been right; no one was in there but Ron. He sat beside his bed, on the floor, hugging his knees to his chest. His bare feet were curled up because of the cold, but he hadn't so much as put on his slippers. In fact, he was still dressed in his pajamas. Hermione watched him a while—he hadn't seemed to notice when she entered—and saw a sort of hopelessness in his blank gaze.
"Ron?" she said quietly.
His face turned to hers and he gave a weak sort of smile. "Hello, Hermione."
"Are you doing okay?" she asked, walking over to him and sitting down.
His answer was long in coming. "…I'm not sure."
Hermione looked at him expectantly, waiting for an explanation, but none came. Instead, Ron went back to staring at the floor, trying to find life's secrets in the cracks in the stone.
"Did you…did you cry at all last night?" he asked tentatively.
"No. Not really," she said quietly, "Some things just feel beyond tears."
"It's okay to cry," Ron answered quickly, looking at her, "It really is."
Hermione smiled, nodding her head. "I know."
The boy glanced down at his feet, and when his eyes looked back up at Hermione, they shone brightly. "Especially when it all seems so—so out of your control," he said hoarsely, his bottom lip quivering slightly, "and you feel like there's nothing you can do, nothing to…to…"
Hermione finally understood. She held out her arms, taking him up in an embrace. Ron gripped her tightly back, hunched slightly so he could find solace in her shoulder. He shook with sobs, and Hermione patted his back, trying to ease the pain.
"It's okay," she soothed, "We all cry at some point. It's okay."
"I'm just so afraid," he murmured between struggled breaths, "I'm so afraid."
Hermione knit her brows in confusion. "Of what? What are you afraid of, Ron?"
"He's leaving and taking someone with him. He's taking someone with him," the boy muttered unintelligibly.
"Who?"
"Percy. He's taking someone with him."
Hermione loosened her grip enough to look Ron in the eye. "What?"
"Someone's going to die, Hermione," he said, nearing a breakdown, "Percy said he had a year, at most, and then he would leave and guide someone along. Someone I love is going to die."
Hermione held him close again, but now her grip was as much to assuage her fears as his. They remained like this for a long while before Ron gently pulled back, composed but still sniffling.
"I broke my wand," he said miserably.
"What?" Hermione couldn't help but feel lost.
Ron glanced at the floor, muttering under his breath, "I threw my wand against the ground and it broke. It'll take my whole life savings to replace it!"
Hermione smiled slightly, murmuring, "Oh, Ron," and then kissed him gently on the forehead.
****
Azar slouched in her bed, her arms folded and steam pouring from her ears. Sirius started at this sight when he entered the room, but then a grin spread over his face. He opened his mouth to speak.
"Not. One. Word," Azar said darkly, her eyes narrowed.
"Now Azar, everyone has to take Pepperup potion at some point in their lives," Sirius consoled, though still grinning.
"Doesn't mean I have to like it," she growled.
"Pomfrey once forced the stuff down my throat right before I went on a date," Sirius said, walking over to Harry's bed, "so I kept my cloak's hood up tight to try and hide the smoke. The poor girl thought I was Satan himself when the pent up steam escaped by blasting my hood back."
"Yeah. Funny."
Sirius leaned in close to Harry. "Better watch out, mate. Looks like she becomes rather grouchy when she's sick."
"You haven't seen anything," the boy whispered back, "Draco and I've had to be in here with her for hours. And the last time I saw him, Draco was off for a bathroom break. That was an hour ago."
"I can hear everything you're saying, you know!" Azar yelled at them.
"If you just stopped complaining, it wouldn't be so bad," Harry called back at her.
It was amazing what a silencing effect those words had on her, though they didn't remove the scowl from her face.
"Yeah, two days out of commission is about all I can stand," the boy smiled, "It's funny, but it's seemed much longer than that. Today's felt like an eternity, especially since Madam Pomfrey's watched Azar and me like a hawk. She wouldn't even let us get within three meters of each other, and believe me, there are some things you just don't want to yell across the room."
Sirius laughed, most of all overjoyed to find Harry in such good spirits. As Sirius listened to laments of being cramped in a hospital bed all day, the conversation was interrupted by the entrance of Severus Snape. The man looked about as good as a walking corpse. It was clear sleep had been lacking in Snape's life the past few days, consequently abolishing any hope of a good temperament.
In his hand he held a goblet, smoking at the top. This, after a few long strides to the bedside, he shoved in Harry's hand with a snarled command of, "Drink this, Potter" and then he turned to leave.
Before Harry could so much as blink, Sirius had snatched the goblet away from him, taking after Snape.
"What is the meaning of this?!" he yelled at the Potions master, "Tell me now or I swear I'll…I'll—"
Snape turned slightly towards him. "By all means, dump the potion out, if you want to throw away any chance of that boy getting better."
Sirius wasn't sure if this was a bluff. "What do you mean? What's in this glass?"
"A potion of my own invention," Snape answered, resigned to having to speak to Sirius but not to face him, "Its purpose is actually to heal bad burns, but as that is how Potter was blinded, it may be of some use."
"And how do I know this hasn't been poisoned?!"
"Sirius," Harry finally spoke up, though quietly, "I've already had some. Professor Snape brought it in yesterday."
"It's true," Azar confirmed, "He worked all night to make the batch."
Against his will, Sirius' ears burned red. He stood there awkwardly for a moment, then handed the goblet back to Harry. "Drink up, then."
Snape turned toward the man fully now, his arms crossed and one eyebrow raised expectantly. Sirius just gave him a steely look. "What, waiting for gratitude? You said it might work. When 'might' turns to 'does', then you will be thanked."
Snape just gave him a dark look and then disappeared out the door.
"I think he wanted an apology," Harry offered, as careful as though he walking over spikes.
Sirius snorted. "He's given me every reason to jump to such conclusions. I've no reason to apologize."
Harry just drank the potion, not feeling up to facing Sirius when he voice was so on edge.
Draco walked in just then, returning from his extended bathroom break dressed in everyday clothes. "She done being petulant yet?" he asked, nodding his head in Azar's direction.
"Oh, shut up!"
"Guess not."
Draco sat on the side of his bed farthest away from Azar. His gaze met Sirius' and he gave him a meaningful look, nodding his head toward Pomfrey's office. Sirius looked mildly confused, but nodded.
"Be right back, Harry," he assured his godson, following Draco.
They stopped in the small hall between the hospital room and Pomfrey's office, where Azar and Harry couldn't overhear.
"Is there any news?" Draco asked quietly, those his eyes were wide with anxiety, "Do they know if Voldemort is still alive, and why if he is? Does the public know about what happened yet? …Did…did they find my father?"
Sirius shook his head, whispering his answer so the others wouldn't hear. "Ministry members searched the whole forest, Draco, but no sign of Lucius was found."
Draco nodded his head slowly, then waited for the other answers.
"We're still not certain about Voldemort's whereabouts. And as to whether or not the public knows, I don't kn—"
"They do."
The two men turned sharply to find Mrs. Weasley standing in the doorway of Madam Pomfrey's office, a paper grasped in her hand.
"Hello, Draco, Sirius," she said normally before quickly going back to what she had said before, "The Evening Daily Prophet just arrived. You'd better look at this."
She handed them the newspaper, folded over to an article. The headline read:
Hogwarts' Heirs Fail in Defeating You-Know-Who; Boy Killed
Rita Skeeter's exclusive interview with a Death Eater who witnessed the event
~*~*~
A/N: Eh, much shorter than I intended. Ah well. Yes, yes, dear Ms. Skeeter's popping up again. And no worries, I'll have an explanation for where she's been all this time. ^_^ And, oc, little snippets of the article, if not the whole thing.
Okay, just to clear up any questions, I'm going to explain a bit about Percy. First of all, Percy is not your ordinary ghost. Ordinary ghosts cannot go back. Percy, in all truth, isn't a ghost, he's a guide. *takes deep breath* Long explanation here. (This is one of those "the author knows far too much that the reader will never find out" things. ^_^) (And do keep in mind that this is fiction, so it's not my true deep down beliefs surfacing.) In the afterlife, spirits have a chance to be a guide. It's their choice. FYI, Percy decided to be a guide, Ginny did not. Guides, after at least one year of training, are sent down to help others "pass on". Every person who dies is guided into the afterlife, most often by someone they know. Of course, the task is not always completed. Guides have one year to "do their job", and then they must return to the afterlife for another year. Most of the time, everything goes simply according to plans, but sometimes people make choices that weren't forseen. In this, the guide may end up bringing back someone else, or no one at all. Any more questions about guides/Percy, feel free to ask.
Thank you to everyone who reviewed the last chapter!
jona: *hangs head* Ah, I'm sorry. I'll be sure to write a rotten chapter soon. ~_^ Girl, you are one of my worst head-swellers! Don't! *really hangs head* I promise, I'll read your newest chs. this weekend. Crikey, just no time. It's killing me. Thank you!
Jeanne: Teehee, it's not supposed to sound good. ^_^ Mm… No anger taking out, please? lol Thanks!
Trisana: Er…no, he never gets a break. ^_^ Thanks!
abbey: Thank you!
Mystery: Thanks!
King Jasbon: Hehe… ^_^ Thanks!
Lyddi: Thank you so much!
serotonin: No, no, far from finished. Don't worry, I will be absolutely sure to make sure that everyone knows when it ends. ^_^ Wow, I roped a MWPP fan!!! Heehee, well, my next fanfic will be a MWPP… ^_^ Thank you so much. I'm more than flattered.
Naralina: Hm… Well, most of my cut lines/scenes were literally cut, as in deleted now and forever. But I do have a few that I still could slip in, but probably won't. *shrug* Def. not a bad idea. ^_^ Oh, yah! I was hoping I would get Remus across like that. Yeah, the spilling water scene, that was sort of a quickly hashed-out scene. I'd originally planned things to go much differently, but it just didn't happen that way, so I had to "fix" it. ^_^ Very good advice. I do think I am leaning more toward taking risks, and will be farther on in the story. The scene between Molly and Draco is just so strange to me, because it all came about because of my imagining Draco's high-pitched "Mrs. Weasley!" I loved what came out of it, though. ^_^ I know Sirius' line wasn't realistic, but I wasn't. dropping. that. scene. ^_^ I'd had it a long time, and though there are some scenes I'm finding I must let go, I refused to do so with that one. …Wow. Allison, just… thanks.
Starry: lol Well, the strange thing is, when I first introduced James (Bell), I had absolutely no design in it. I just thought it was quite a common name and might be strange for Harry to hear someone else having his father's name. But I was glad to discover that Harry and Sirius had that connection, for it just allows them to understand each other more.
Kelly: Oh, please continue with the board, Kelly! I didn't like it at first either, but you'll get used to it. *gets on knees* Pweeese? lol I'd answer your Draco question, but can't without giving something away… ^_^ Thank you!
F75: Thanks.
Colibi: Hehe, can't tell you that!
Elucreh: lol No need to repeat it! ^_^ Thanks for your betaing!!! Hehe… You just gave me an idea, and I don't know if you'll like it. *bwa-ha-ha* And NO! I'm not explaining Ron and Percy until it supposed to come. :P Thanks!
devilishly-clever34: Thank you!
Sonata: Lol, thank you! Pretty sure…not positive, but pretty sure. ^_^ Aw, I can't take credit for "Flight of Death". I don't remember where, but I read it on one of those meanings-of-HP-names sites. *dances* SO SOON!!! I'm more than excited!
Ah, I must fly! I'm gonna be late! (This is what happens when I don't post late-nights on weekends. ^_^) Thank you all again!
Be excellent to each other!
-Ady