****
Harry Potter and the Rise of the Dark Lord
by: Logical Raven

****

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday. Sorry it has been so long since I've updated. Hope you guys are still interestd in reading. This chapter is dedicated to my old high school best friend. This chat is for you.

****
Fire Whiskey Chats



It was dark, and the cool autumn air stung as it brushed against Harry Potter's face. The Hogwart Express's whistle warned the boarding students that the journey was about commence, but this was no ordinary journey.

The aura that surrounded this journey was dark and uncertain. So many deaths, so many goodbyes. Ron sat silent next to the window, with a look of confusion haunting his face. He hadn't said much since the funeral of Percy Weasley. His little sister Ginny was trying but failing to keep her spirits up.

She'd occasional tried to make a joke, or witty remark, but soon afterwards her smile would fade, and her eyes would glisten. By the time the candy lady had pushed her cart past their door, the young red head was fast asleep in Harry's lap.

"I do wish she'd stop trying to put up such a front," Hermione whispered.

"Just leave her alone, she'll be okay," Harry said quickly letting his hand run across her velvet strands of hair subconsciously.

Ron huffed, not turning his attention from the window.

"Ron, you're being awful quite," Hermione said daringly over in his direction.

He remained silent except for a slight grunt. Harry wasn't sure if Ron and Hermione were on speaking terms, but if one positive thing had come out of Percy's tragedy, than the two of them being in the same room again was it.

"Let him be," Harry mouthed over towards Hermione who frowned.

"I'm just worried about him," Hermione mouthed back.

The trolley lady came and went, and the Hogwart's Express continued on its slow journey back. Harry met up with Padma Patil about ten minuets before pulling into the station, and escorted the students back into the castle.

"How are you holding up?" Harry finally asked after searching for the right thing to say.

Padma nodded, "Better, I hate to say it, but there is some peace in knowing I'm not alone."

Harry forced a smile, and two spent the rest of the carriage ride without words. The students were divided as soon as they got into the Great Hall, and the Prefects escorted their houses back to their common rooms, where they would eat dinner.

"McGonagall wants to meet with us tomorrow morning at 8, I'll see you then Harry," Padma reminded him before disappearing with her house. Harry glanced over his shoulder where Odin Blackfoot was watching him with a weary eye. The Aurors were taking a new vigilance in their monitoring duties.

The Gryffindors ate their dinners almost forcefully as the house elves made their appearance, clearing their plates as they finished. Hermione didn't even mention S.P.E.W. More quickly than Harry anticipated the common room cleared out to only Hermione, Ginny and Harry remained. It seemed nobody was in much of a talking mood.

"I'm worried about Ron," Hermione voiced for about the sixth time.

Ginny frowned, "Ron is set in his ways and it's just going to take him some time."

"Ginny is right, just let him be for now," Harry agreed.

Hermione lowered her eyes, but nodded, "It was nice of Cho to attend the ceremony for you," she attempted to change the subject.

Harry forced a smile, "I was kind of surprised, I didn't know she'd be there."

"She really cares about you a lot Harry," Ginny added, staring off into the fire, her darks eyes clouding with tears, "Did you see Penelope Clearwater? I feel so bad for her."

Harry sighed, with all the death and tears surrounding him, he couldn't help but think of Sirius. He pulled Ginny into a brotherly hug as she buried her tear streaked face into his robes.

"I'm sorry," she muttered miserably, collapsing back into his lap.

Hermione took another deep breath before rising and stretching her back.

"I think I'm going to try to get some rest. I have a feeling with classes being cancelled that we'll be seeing plenty of this common room."

"You have no idea," Harry muttered, reminded of McGonagall's speech that classes were cancelled until further notice, and no student would be permitted outside their common room except for meals.

Hermione disappeared up the girls' dormitory stairs. Harry shifted uncomfortably as Ginny's head remained in Harry's lap. She sobbed gently, not saying a word as she stared into the fire.

"You know, Sirius scared me witless one time in that fireplace," Harry started.

Ginny continued to remain quiet.

"He use to contact me through the floo network. One night he popped his head into the fire and caught me, Ron and Hermione off guard. Then Umbridge hand swooped in right when his head disappeared," Harry continued.

Ginny took a deep rattled breath, "You don't have to entertain me Harry."

"I know how hard it is to lose somebody you care about," he said swiftly.

Ginny faced squinted as she visibly fought back her tears, "You never really liked Percy, did you?"

"I liked Percy fine. I'll be honest he wasn't my favorite member of your family though," Harry confessed, "It was Percy who didn't like me apparently."

"No that wasn't it. Percy always wanted to follow the rules. I remember when we were kids he always wanted to play Prefect," Ginny giggled, "He'd make us all pretend we were students at Hogwarts and he'd hand out detentions and points. George and Fred use to make him so mad with their pranks during his game."

"What would they do?" Harry inquired.

"Well, it doesn't take magic to prank. That's what they'd always say. Once they made some kind of ink and spiked his tea with it," Ginny said reflecting, "His teeth were purple for a week."

Harry grinned, "Sounds like something those two would do."

Ginny sighed, "I just wish things would have been right with the family before he died. I noticed how much Percy's absence took on mum this summer. She barely ate, and if anybody mentioned Percy's name she'd break down into tears. I know it isn't his fault the Imperious Curse was used on him, but if it were me I'd think I would fight it more. Ron thinks Percy went willing over to the Death Eaters, he said so all summer."

"I don't think Ron understands how difficult it is to fight the Imperious Curse," Harry commented.

Ginny nodded, rising her head out of Harry's lap, "No, he doesn't. It's easier for Ron to believe Percy was a traitor I think, it doesn't hurt as much that way."

"What do you think?" Harry asked.

Ginny's eyes glazed over as she leaned her head into Harry's shoulder, "My brother was no traitor. He died a hero if you ask me. He died in a way that made the Weasley family proud, fighting the Death Eaters."

"I wish I knew how to get rid of Voldemort once and for all," Harry muttered bitterly as his eyes began to burn from the dancing flames he was watching.

Ginny leaned her head up towards his, staring him straight into the eyes, "You do know. You're the boy who lived."

Harry huffed, "I didn't do anything, my mum did. She died and left a charm to protect me. That is why Voldemort's curse reflected off of me, but that protection is gone now."

"I know how scared you feel right now. I'm scared to," Ginny almost whispered, her eyes searching Harry's.

Harry felt his heart pounding in his chest as he struggled to tear his eyes from the ocean of warmth he was staring into. She just kept looking up at him. Ginny Weasley wasn't the young child who was once rescued by the famous Harry Potter. She wasn't the little sister of Ron. Ginny was an equal, who understood the fear Harry was feeling more than anyone he could have imagined.

"I still have nightmares about him, I remember his eyes, his red eyes," Ginny said slowly.
"I can still hear his voice inside my mind, telling me to do horrible things."

Harry watched her slowly move towards him her warm breath brushed his cheek. He couldn't tear himself away from her dark eyes. He felt his own breath escape with a nervous shutter. Her lips were lingering just an hair width away from his.

"I guess you're worried about Cho?" Ginny said quickly, backing away to a safe distance.

"Huh?" Harry said suddenly, shaking his head back into reality.

Ginny smiled nervously, "She's in a lot of danger after all with Auror training."

"Oh, I know December O'Riley is watching her back, she's fine," Harry said in a blunder, turning his head quickly back towards the fire.

Ginny rose to her feet and faked a yawn, "I'm going to turn in, good night Harry."

Harry watched her disappear in the same footsteps as Hermione. He tried to tell her good night, but he couldn't find his words. He slowly rose to his own feet, his mind was swarming with confusion, and he walked up his own dormitory stairs.

He pushed open his Head Boy's door and walked into his room. There was his best mate, Ron Weasley, sitting on the floor with a bottle of fire whiskey tight in his grasp.

"Charlie got it for dad a few years ago, I don't think he's going to miss it much," Ron muttered miserably.

Harry frowned, "Ron, you honestly should be drinking that stuff."

Ron threw up his hand and waved in a drunken protest, "There are a lot of think that I shouldn't be doing in life, but the hell with it all."

Harry took a seat next to Ron, and was handed the bottle of alcohol .

"Take a drink, who knows if you'll ever have a chance to again," Ron continued with his slurred bitterness.

Harry slowly turned the bottle up towards his lips and let the smoking liquid filter down his throat. It burned even as it settled his stomach, and finished it journey as Harry let a smoky belch escape his lips.

"It gets better after a fourth a fifth swig," Ron commented.

Harry coughed, "Let's hope."

"I mean bloody hell Harry. I can't do anything right! I can't tell Hermione how I feel, I can't even morn my prat brother's death," Ron ranted, yanking the bottle out of Harry's hand a taking a large gulp.

"Tell Hermione how you feel?" Harry asked, trying to sound confused.

"Stop playing, everyone knows I'm crazy about her, but I'm just to big of an idiot to admit it," Ron hissed at himself. "And Percy, why the hell did he go off and get himself killed! Stupid prat."

Harry sighed taking another small drink from Ron's fire whiskey bottle, "Ron do honestly know how silly you sound."

Ron shrugged, "I'll admit it to you, I cried when I found out Percy had been killed, and Hermione was there to comfort me. You know what I did? I couldn't even muster a thank-you. I told her to quite trying to mother me."

Harry face suddenly grew warm as the last swig of whiskey floating down his throat numbed his insides, "Well, I almost kissed your sister in the common room tonight."

Ron choked spaying Harry's bedroom floor, "YOU WHAT!"

"I didn't," Harry defended, "I mean it wasn't like anything happened."

Ron eyed Harry skeptically, "I thought you were in love with Cho?"

"Love," Harry mumbled, taking another drink of the bitter tasting smoking liquid.

"You know, can't eat, sleep, breath without you kind of feeling," Ron almost laughed.

Harry thought for a moment, "I care about Cho."

Ron sighed, and blurted out "I love Hermione."

"What?" Harry chuckled.

Ron might have been blushing, but his face was so flushed from the liquor that it was hard to tell, "I can't stop thinking about her. I want to hex that stupid Corner, did you hear he asked her to owl him over the summer."

"I already knew that Ron," Harry stated.

"Well, and that stupid Vicktor Krum. What's he got that I don't?" Ron asked resentfully.

"International Quidditch status," Harry joked, suddenly overcome with the desire to laugh.

"I'm pouring my heart out to you, and you're laughing at me!" Ron protested, taking another drink out of his bottle.

"I'm sorry mate, you're just so pitiful," Harry continued to laugh.

Ron huffed, raising his bottle "Fine, here's to Percy, at least it wasn't a decent Weasley."

"That isn't right, Percy was decent, just a bit misguided," Harry corrected.

Ron lowered his bottle, "I'm serious though, I do love Hermione."

"Honestly mate, you are hopeless. I'd tell you to tell her what you're feeling, but you never listen to me," Harry said quickly, taking a rather large drink of the smoldering liquid.

Ron nodded, "I don't listen very well, do I. Let's face it Harry, we're hopeless. I mean, you're trying to kiss my little sister, and you have a girlfriend who probably knows more hexes and curses than both of us put together now, and I'm in love with our best friend."

"I did not try to kiss Ginny," Harry defended, but it was to late Ron had already passed out, clutching his bottle.