(Another update. Talk to you guys soon. Oh, by the way, this will end up being an H/H, but not in the way you would expect it. Just relax. If you trust it, it will come.)

Fear is the Mind Killer

Harry woke up in the in a warm, white bed. Madame Pomfrey, Dumbledore, McGonnagal, Ron, and Hermione were standing over him. He felt immense pain run through his body, yet he sat up all the same.

"HARRY!" Hermione cried, rushing him and hugging him tightly. Harry winced in pain. "Sorry." She whispered, backing away. Harry wished she wouldn't.

"We thought you were a goner, mate!" Ron said, exhaling deeply.

"And you should be! Dueling on rooftops, for heavens sake! You may be powerful, Mr. Potter, but you are not that powerful!" McGonnagal reprimanded.

Harry was barely listen to her. Madame Pomfrey began talking with the teachers about his medicine. Harry signaled for Ron and Hermione to come closer.

"What happened exactly?" Harry asked.

"Well, we're not sure. Leto said you two were practicing spells up on the roof." Hermione said.

"Practicing spells?" Harry asked with a very confused look.

"Well, weren't you?" Hermione had a very worried look on her face. Harry didn't want to let her know Leto had lied to her. He didn't want to hurt her like that.

"Yeah, yeah of course we were."

"Well, anyway," Ron continued, "I was walking back from Hagrid's Hut when I saw you falling, and-"

"What were you doing at Hagrid's Hut?" Harry interrupted.

"Well...I was...um...helping Hagrid...give...Grawp....a...um...bath." Ron said. Before Harry could comment, Ron said "Don't say anything. Anyway, I saw you falling. Boy, it's was a wicked splash!" Hermione elbowed Ron. "Oww! What was that for?"

"Ron dove into the water and pulled you out Harry." Hermione said.

"Trust me, it wasn't easy mate. You were like jelly. You weren't breathing, either. You had been under the water a few minutes until I found you." Ron said, with a rather proud look on his face. "I saved your life this time." Harry smiled and reached out his hand to shake Ron's. Ron gently took it, and smiled.

"Thanks, Ron. I'm serious, thank you." Ron smiled.

"Sure. What are best friends for?" Harry chuckled, but he hissed in pain at his ribs.

"Careful, Harry. You took quite a beating." Hermione put her hand on his chest. He stared into her eyes. She smiled down into his. Then he remembered whose girl she was.

"Where's Leto?" Harry asked

"He's back in the dorm." Hermione said. "He was a little shaken up over this whole thing."

"Yeah. Though I don't understand why he didn't just go in and rescue you himself." Ron said.

"Ron, he was on the roof too, remember? He would've ended up just like Harry." Hermione said.

"Hermione, he's a druid, remember? He can heal. If he had jumped off the side of the castle, sure, it would've hurt like hell, but he could've healed himself. He could've gotten to Harry quicker, and Harry wouldn't have been out cold for three days."

"Three days?" Harry asked. Ron and Hermione continued their argument.

"Ron, I'm sure Leto had his reasons." Hermione said, getting angrier by the minute.

"Yeah, but what were they, Hermione? Why wouldn't he save Harry?"

Harry realized it was futile to resist. He lay back down. As he did, Dumbledore came over. "Thank God." Harry thought.

"Well, young man, how are you?" Dumbledore asked.

"I'm fine....Professor." Harry didn't want to let the world know of his relationship to Dumbledore. It was clear from the old Wizard's reaction that he agreed.

"Good. Now," Dumbledore turned to Ron and Hermione, "If you two will excuse us, Harry and I have some discussing to do, and I'm afraid it can't wait. I've already heard enough talk from Madame Pomfrey and I don't need it from you, Ms. Granger." Hermione turned red.

"Yes, Professor. We'll leave." Hermione muttered. Ron and Hermione left the room without speaking to one another.

"Now that we are alone, Harry, we need to discuss what you saw." Harry's eyes shot wide, but Dumbledore smiled. "It's all right Harry, Leto told me everything in confidence." Harry relaxed a bit more. Dumbledore got very serious. There was a fire burning in his twinkling eyes...a fire that Harry had only seen a few times before.

"This news....of a Trogg army...I very depressing, Harry. And worse, is the story of the ring. Yes, Leto told me about it Harry." Dumbledore sensed Harry's confused state, and clarified. "The Ring of the Dead is an ancient artifact of the Dark Lord Raban. An Egyptian wizard of ancient times. He figured that if the Egyptians insisted on mummifying the dead, then those dead should be used. He spent his entire life creating a ring that could manipulate slain comrades and foes alike. Fortunately for us, he died day after completing his life's work. He hid the ring, vowing that no other should be able to use it. Of course, we knew it was only a matter of time until it was found. And now, Voldemort has the power to create an army unlike anything seen on Earth. No doubt the Dementors will side with him, as well...this is...." Dumbledore looked down at Harry. Harry was terrified. If Dumbledore was worried, there was serious trouble. Dumbledore smiled warmly at Harry. "Don't worry, Harry. We have time. Focus on your school work. You'll be better prepared if you do." Dumbledore got up to leave, but turned to face Harry. "And Harry, don't think Leto can only teach you. There is plenty you need to teach him...and not just magic." Dumbledore then left Harry in his bed.

Harry was confused, frustrated, and tired. Before he could complain, Madame Pomfrey rushed over with a vile of green potion. "Professor Dumbledore...interrupting me and my patients. Of course he is the headmaster." She forced the vile into Harry's mouth and he swallowed. The liquid was like liquid fire. He tried to spit it out, but he drank. "This will help, Mr. Potter. Swallow." He did, and he fell into a deep sleep.

Hermione walked up to the boys dorms. She knocked on the door. "Enter." She heard Leto call from the other side. She opened the door and saw Leto inside, alone. He was looking outside the window, staring out into the lake. He slowly turned to see her. His sad face brightened a bit, and he reached out his hand for her. She took it, and he pulled her into him. He held her closely.

"How is he?" Leto asked.

"He's gonna be fine." Hermione said.

Leto released her, holding her hands and staring into her eyes.

"How are you?" He asked.

"I'm fine. It was a bit of a scare...." Hermione lay her head on his chest. He kissed the top of her head.

"I'm sorry. I know how much me means to you." He said.

Hermione looked up at him. "Why should you apologize? You didn't mean for it to happen. So what, boys get rough in their games. The important thing is nobody got hurt."

Leto walked over to a desk and put his hands down. He lowered his head. "Hermione...we weren't practicing spells."

Hermione smiled faintly. "I know." Leto turned to her surprises. "Come on, Leto, I have the highest marks in the school. It doesn't take a genius to figure out you weren't dueling, Ron's proof of that." Leto chuckled slightly at the joke. "Do you want to tell me what you were doing?"

Leto looked at her, sadness all over his face. "No." He said.

Hermione felt as if somebody hit her in the stomach. "Okay...um...I guess...I'll just-"

Leto walked up to her and held her. "I wish with all of my might I could tell you Hermione...but I can't. Not yet. I wish....I wish..." Hermione looked up at him longingly. Leto bent down and kissed her passionately. She kissed back, tears running down the side of her face. When they broke, Leto looked deeply into her eyes. "I could've helped him, Hermione."

Hermione looked into his eyes with honesty and innocence. "Then why didn't you?"

Leto lowered his head, ashamed. "I was afraid. I was afraid to die."

"You...die?" Hermione said, chuckling. He looked up at her, and she saw something she had never seen in him before...fear.

"I can die, Hermione. I'm only a man." He kissed her forehead. "I don't want to die. Not now...when I have you." She hugged his tightly, determined never to let go. "I almost let him die, Hermione...because I was afraid....I almost lost it all...I was so selfish-"

"Shhhhh." Hermione put a finger to his lips. He smiled slightly, his eyes watering. He kissed her finger, then her hand, then her lips.

"Leto...." Hermione said, praying he took this the right way, "I think I'm falling in love with you."

Leto smirked at her. "I must be losing my charm! You should be way past thinking by now." She playfully slapped his chest and he pulled her in tighter. They fell down on his bed together. They kissed gently before falling asleep.

A few minutes later, Dean and Seamus burst into the room. "Hey, Leto, guess wha-" Seamus was cut off at what he saw on the bed. Dean and Seamus' jaws dropped.

"Have they just..." Seamus asked.

"I don't know." Dean said.

Not willing to wait around to find out, Dean and Seamus left the dorm, deciding to sleep in the common room.

Back in the Hospital Room, Harry dreamt pleasant dreams for the first time in a while. He was in a long field, with clear blue skies, beaming sun, and a cool breeze. He was with Hermione. They were together, older. Harry had a child on his lap. The world seemed like a perfect place...for now.

(That's it for now. Sorry it's so short. We'll do more later. For those who haven't seen what they want give suggestions. This is gonna be pretty long, with a good ten or fifteen more chapters. Don't count anything out yet. Next chapter will be mostly about the ball, but there will be some revolutions on Lupin and Leto's relationship. Why do they hate each other?)

Keep on hunting!

Demon Hunter