8 Miles Running by Avadne
Disclaimer: I don't own the Harry Potter characters. I just like making them do what I want…
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Part II: 7 Mile
Voldemort was even closer now, closer to Harry. A mere 7 miles away. Was Harry having second thoughts?
No. Well, not really.
No, firmly. Definitely not. Harry was mking the correct decision right there. No hesitation allowed.
It was something he had been taught. How to be sure of his decisions, and the way they affected others. And who had taught him that, but Remus Lupin?
Remus. The last Marauder. The only one left on this earth that meant something to Harry through his parents. It didn't get much better than his father's best friend. Or one of, anyway. And before anyone opened their mouths… Wormtail did not count.
Remus had been his first true link to his parents. He had told him of Lily and James, what they were like. He had become the closest thing to an uncle Harry had; Vernon sure as hell didn't count. But Remus did.
Remus taught him many things, but one stuck out in his mind the most; a Patronus. Remus had taught him how to face Harry's worst fear. The fear of Dementors. Remus had taught him how to face them, and how to come out on top. Remus was the reason Harry could create his stag Patronus, affectionately titled Prongs.
The best Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, by far, had been Remus. Professor Lupin had made his classes interesting and fun, while full of knowledge. His methods had left Harry's whole class very impressed.
And who could forget the Marauders Map? Remus had told him everything about the Map. The Map, which Harry still had; and he knew that while it's financial value must be huge, it's sentimental value outstripped it by a million. Sure, people would pay millions for such a map of Hogwarts… but Harry knew it was his most valued object. It was one in a million; his wand could be replaced, as could his Invisibility Cloak. But the map could not.
Remus wouldn't want Harry to run. He would want him to face the fears. The fears… the Boggart lessons served him well, after all and in more ways than one. It had taught Harry that no matter how scary something seemed, it could be beaten. And technically, that theory applied to Voldemort too, didn't it? After all, Harry was marked as Voldemort's equal. That meant he had a chance… right?
Harry knew what to do again. He felt it in his very heart, his mind and the depths of his soul. He knew that running would no longer do any good, no matter how right it seemed. He could run for ever, but in the en, he wouldn't be able to hide.
Harry did not move. He was still standing motionlessly, and this time it was for Remus Lupin. It didn't take long; Voldemort had gained one more mile on him.
Only 6 more to go.
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Part 2 is complete. Yes, the ending is the same. It will stay the same until the final chapter.
Thanks to the people that reviewed... Kris-tina4, ShadowMoony and Nianko; your reviews are a pleasre to read and I hope you continue.
Avadne