Chapter 57. The Beginning of the End.
The revelation of the curse to kill Voldemort lifted everyone's spirits, intentional and suited or not. While still getting used to idea, Harry was at least pleased that if a confrontation between he and Voldemort were to happen anytime soon (as it was nearing the end of the school year); he would finally be able to kill Voldemort. It was a prospect that both scared him and made him happy, for the same reasons. If Harry could kill Voldemort, the wizarding world would be saved, but Harry only admitted to himself that he would not know what to do with himself. For countless years, Voldemort had been after him, and while it was a burden for him, the idea of having a future, of seeing it so clearly for the first time in several years, scared him. In all truth, for a long time, Harry had not expected to have a future, ever since he had found out about the prophecy. His first thoughts had been that he would lose, and he would die, and that would be the end. The idea that he could survive this was even more terrifying than if he didn't.
Harry knew that he was being faced with an identity crisis. If Voldemort died, Harry would be finally free of the constraints Voldemort had posed on his life, and he was thankful for that. But Harry knew that without these constraints, he would have to do some soul-searching. Ever since Voldemort had visited his family home many years ago, Voldemort had defined who Harry was. But if Voldemort died-Harry would finally be able to define who he really was, the normal wizard that he was meant to be.
And that scared him more than anything else.
The fact that he would have to kill him also tore him up, he knew very well that Voldemort was evil, and Dumbledore had said that there was not much human left in him, but Harry felt awful about killing the parts of human that was in him. Harry knew that he would have to get used to the idea of taking a human life.
However, he was glad he had told Ron and Hermione about the prophecy. Or at least, Hermione anyway, as Ron was, as usual, not very observant. Hermione knew when Harry was upset or distant at least, and would always tell Ron. Or that was what he gathered whenever Hermione would shoot Ron prodding looks and Ron would suddenly start to talk about the prophecy. Harry was grateful for Ron's unintentional bluntness and stuttering whenever it came to talk about the prophecy and Hermione's level-headedness and firm belief in him. The decision to tell his best friends was, Harry decided, the best decision he had made in a long time.
Both Buffy and Angel had come out of the ritual unscathed, but extremely exhausted, and after they woke up from ten minutes in the state of unconsciousness, Buffy told everyone of the curse and then went straight to bed, to come out the next day at noon. Although he barely knew Angel, Harry was deeply grateful to him for doing this and to Buffy as well as he knew they had risked a lot to find out the curse.
Buffy advised Harry to take it easy for the following weeks, and try to live as normal as possible, but still try to prepare himself for what was to come. Harry did not have the faintest idea of how to do this, he would either be sitting in class, attentive and concentrated on the task at hand, or he would be sitting in class, inattentive, and thinking of how he would get himself to kill Voldemort. He could never do both at the same time, and thinking about Voldemort gripped him with an all-consuming fear.
Whenever he thought of how he would kill Voldemort, he also imagined Hermione and Ron being involved. He could picture killing Voldemort, and in the corner of the scene, he could see Hermione and Ron, looking fearfully at him. He didn't want it like that. Yes, he wanted support, but scared looks would not help him in that situation. He also did not want them getting hurt, as he was sure they would in that situation. After much deliberation about this, he decided that he would in the end, defeat Voldemort alone.
He hadn't told Hermione and Ron this, and he knew what their reactions would be. They would tell him that they wanted to be there for him, and that they could help and they would be there every step of the way and nothing would keep them from being there-he knew all this, because they had already told him numerous amounts of times. To have Hermione nervously bite her bottom lip and tell him with worried eyes that she would be there for him, and Ron with a fearful but determined look on his face saying that he would be there when Harry finished it- the looks and words were all firmly imprinted on his mind, and he felt guilty that he had decided against them being there, but he decided that it was for their own good.
He tried to keep it from them, as he knew what their reactions would be, but he always found it difficult whenever it came to lying to Hermione. Ron was easy to get around, Harry had a lot of practise in lying over the years and could easily look him in the face and lie, but when it came to Hermione, it was different. For the past couple of years, he had found it increasingly difficult to lie to her. Last year, he couldn't look her in eye when he lied, and now, he would find something else to look at and mumble incoherent words and prayed it would make sense to her. And whenever she would nod, seemingly taking in his lies, he would feel incredibly guilty.
He didn't want to lie to her, to any of his friends anymore. He was sick of doing it, sick of keeping secrets and keeping them bottled inside of him, waiting for explosions. But he found him doing so yet again, and as each day passed, he still kept his secrets, and Hermione and Ron were none the wiser.
The happiest Harry had seen Hermione in the longest time was when Madam Pomfrey told her that she would be well enough to go to the upcoming Hogsmeade weekend in April, just a few days away. Previously, Hermione hadn't been let out in the cold for too long, in fear that she would catch a cold and would not be able to get better because of her weak immune system. However, soon the numbers of potions she had to take dropped and Hermione appeared to be her usual self, which both Harry and Ron were happy about.
The two boys could not wait to take their best friend out of the dreadful castle and into the sunshine and great atmosphere of the wizarding village. Harry idly wondered whether Ron had approached Hermione about his feelings for her, but decided to keep it at the back of his mind. He didn't want to be bothered with that now: it would only add to the pain.
School carried on as normal, and there were several Quidditch practises and meetings for Dumbledore's Army. Everything went well, especially Dumbledore's Army. Ever since Hermione's attack, more people had turned up and paid more attention than ever before. Hermione's attack had left every student wary of others, and while it was good thing, Slytherin was being isolated more than ever before.
Hermione of course frowned upon it. She regularly quoted the Sorting Hats' song from last year to Harry "unite inside of her or we'll crumble from within". Both Ron and Harry disagreed with Hermione, they both thought that Slytherin had enough chances and there was no way they were going to make friends with them. Harry couldn't understand how Hermione could forgive the Slytherins so easily, but she reminded Harry that it was Draco Malfoy and the Death Eaters who had attacked her, not Slytherin house. Hermione proceeded to team up in a Potions experiment with the quietest Slytherin, Blaise Zabini. He had looked a little baffled, but with no Draco Malfoy in the class to call Hermione obscene names, he did not reject her. Pansy Parkinson was too shocked to say anything.
Although Hermione's intentions were good, they did not spark off anything, and Hermione found herself the only one extending the hand of friendship to the Slytherins. Both Harry and Ron silently admired Hermione for doing so, they both realised that this was very much like S.P.E.W and maybe a way of dealing what had happened to her. Harry knew that sometimes, Hermione now found it hard to look past the stereotypical Slytherin and see a real person, but having made friends with the nicest Slytherin in the house, she was soon able to get past it, and deal with her attack.
Harry knew it was something Hermione had to do, so when Hermione asked Harry if Blaise could hang around with them in Hogsmeade, Harry agreed. Neither he nor Ron was happy about this, but neither said anything, so on Saturday morning, Hermione, Harry, Ron, Blaise, Ginny, Luna and Neville set off to Hogsmeade.
Harry found himself falling instep with Neville and Ginny as Luna enthusiastically told Ron about creatures who could fly and had scales. Hermione and Blaise chatted animatedly about something Harry couldn't understand. They entered the Hogsmeade village with smiles on their faces and the sun beating down on them, as wizards and witches alike bustled around the busy high street and surly teachers patrolled.
Both Harry and Ginny noticed the larger numbers of teachers and plainly dressed but alert wizards and witches stationed on corners of streets and outside busy shops. Harry and Ginny exchanged glances, and both of them caught up with Hermione and Ron, telling them as inconspicuously as they could.
Hermione immediately glanced around and shared a look with Harry, twisting a lock of bushy hair around her finger as her eyes spoke volumes to Harry that could be summarized in a few words: 'something is wrong'.
Harry pushed past Blaise and led everyone into the Three Broomsticks, pushing his way past wizards and witches who pointed at his scar with their eyes wide. He took a seat around one of the few empty tables and waited as the others pushed their way through the throngs of people greedily slurping down butterbeer and firewhisky.
"Did you see them?" Ginny asked quietly, her head bent close to the middle of the table. As one, the others leant in to hear her, even Luna, despite looking mildly bored.
"See who?" Ron asked, a crease appearing in his brow and next to him, Harry saw Ginny roll her eyes.
"The Aurors, Ron." Hermione said impatiently, nervously looking around to make sure no one could hear them. "They're everywhere."
Ron's eyes flew wide open and he glanced at Harry. "You don't think there's going to be another attack?" He asked quietly, but no one gave him an answer as they sat back in their stiff-backed wooden chairs.
"It would explain why there are so many here." Neville said quietly, studying the table.
"Surely," Hermione said, her cheeks pink and her eyes bright and shining, "if there was going to be an attack, students would not be able to roam Hogsmeade?"
"Maybe Dumbledore got word of it too late." Blaise said, sounding not too interested in the entire thing but glad to pitch in whatever and whenever he could.
Hermione nodded in agreement, chewing her bottom lip again in nervousness. For a while, Harry thought she was staring at him, but her gaze was rested just above his shoulder, and he turned around, to see a fairly young girl come towards them with blonde curly hair in ringlets and a Weird Sisters t-shirt on.
"Tonks!" Harry hissed, and the young Auror quickened her pace and stood next to Harry's chair, trying not to look out of place with the younger students.
"Wotcher Harry?" Tonks said, and from the corner of his eye, Harry could see Blaise frown.
"Why are there so many Aurors here?" Harry whispered, and Tonks had to strain herself to hear, but she did and she glanced around the room nervously.
"High alert today. Word just got in." Tonks said from the corner of her mouth. "Don't worry, you're in safe hands, but I think it would be best if you went back to Hogwarts." She said, shooting a glance at Hermione.
"Thanks Tonks." Ginny said, and nodding her good byes, Tonks squeezed past the punters and quickly left the pub.
"What does 'wotcher' mean?" Blaise asked immediately, and Harry grinned.
"When we know, we'll tell you."
Ginny smiled and stood up, the chair scraping across the floor. "We should go."
As one, the group stood and made their way outside, pushing their way past customers as yet again, they stared and pointed at Harry's scar. Habitually, Harry flattened his black hair against his forehead and ignored Ron's grin.
"Well that was a waste of a trip." Ginny sighed, crossing her arms in front of her chest.
"I was hoping to go to Honeydukes." Blaise said, almost wistfully, and Neville glanced to their left.
"Well, Honeydukes is right there, it wouldn't hurt…would it?" Neville said shyly, looking at Harry.
"If we're quick." Harry said, after a sigh, and hurriedly, Blaise and Neville headed into the shop, talking shyly together. Harry and the rest followed them and squeezed into the shop packed with students from Hogwarts.
Harry and Hermione looked around as the others hurriedly picked out sweets to buy. The shop was filled with them, from floor to ceiling stacked with brightly coloured chocolates and sweets and lollipops, and many students were emptying the shelves of them.
Hermione grinned at Harry, "My parents would go mad if they saw this place." Harry grinned back, idly thinking that Dudley would love to devour this entire shop.
"Maybe you should buy some." Harry said in a conspiring tone. Hermione jokingly looked shocked at the suggestion, but a moment later, took a bundle of brightly coloured sweets in her hands, looking decidedly happy with the knowledge her parents would object to such a thing.
Hermione turned away, and Harry's hand reached out to grab some of the sweets she had just taken to buy when an ear-splitting scream shattered through the pleasant laughter and chatter.
Hermione froze in front of Harry, as did many of the customers in Honeydukes. A second scream, followed by several shorter ones froze the entire shop, as they strained their ears as chaos seemed to erupt outside on the street.
It took only a few moments before the shop door opened and several curious customers looked out, only to scream in fright and run from the shop. The previously built up whispers erupted into frightened yells and shouts and students dropped their purchases and ran out of the shop.
A fairly large girl pushed her way past Harry and he found himself falling back onto the ledges, and he grabbed Hermione's shirt and she fell down with him, both of them ending up on the floor in a tangle of limbs and sweets, and watching the chaos erupt around them.
Immediately, Ron's pale face appeared in front of them, and then Ginny and Luna's and then finally Neville's and Blaise's, each pale and white with fright and nervousness. Young screams penetrated the walls and Harry whipped out his wand, Ron and Hermione following suit.
Harry crept towards the door and looked out, only for the sight to confirm his worst fears-Death Eaters in masks and long black cloaks swarmed the street like wasps, and frightened shoppers were fleeing in every direction. Purple and blue and red and occasionally green beams of light flashed in every direction as plainly dressed Aurors attempted to fight them off and older students tried to protect the younger ones.
Harry promptly shut the door and looked at his friends' pallid faces, each looking to him to leadership. "We have to get out of Hogsmeade." He said, the rest of the shop empty, the owners having already fled. "Don't split up, stick together." Harry said, knowing that none of them wanted a repeat of last year.
"And the Death Eaters?" Hermione asked nervously, her hand shaking.
"Leave them to the Aurors; they're better than we are." Ginny said, and Harry nodded in agreement.
Looking back out to the street, Harry first made sure that there were no Death Eaters near them and when he was sure there was none, he ducked out of the shop, knowing that the others were following him.
The street was a mess. Several shops were on fire, smoke billowing out of the windows and in a torrent into the light sky above. Shopping purchases were strewn all over the floor, as were discarded robes, split coffee and Butterbeer and-Harry felt he was going to be sick-a tiny hand was visible under a mound of clothes.
Harry hugged the shops, anger growing inside of him as he saw Death Eaters mercilessly cursing shoppers and students left and right. There was no where near enough Aurors to match the swelling amount of Death Eaters, who seemed to be appearing right and left. And, to Harry's dismay, several black robed figures strode down the street, snapping necks and when Harry caught sight of their faces, he realised they weren't human-they were demons.
The moment he thought of her, he saw her, fighting her way to them, a wand in one hand, a small dagger in the other, and pushing shoppers out of her way while stabbing demons with a merciless frenzy. Harry ran to her, whipping out his wand and shouting a body binding spell to a Death Eater approaching them, and the relief on her face was evident as he stood in front of her.
"You have to get out of here." Buffy said, her startled green eyes looking left to right, from the increasing piles of dead bodies to the black clothed, masked men that seemed to be multiplying every second.
"We have to get back to Hogwarts." Harry said firmly, as Buffy pushed him down and a beam of red light flew over the tops of their heads. "Expelliarmus!" Harry yelled, pointing his wand at the approaching Death Eater, but the Death Eater leapt out of the way and was lost to the fleeing crowds.
Harry ran back towards his friends as they fought off several Death Eaters, some third years crouched behind them, watching the proceedings with fear on their faces. Buffy was on his heels, taking out any demon she could find. He reached them, and saw that Luna already had a large cut on her face, stretched from ear to ear, blood trickling down to her mouth. Hermione had several scratches on her arms, as did Ginny and Neville, but that was the worst of the injuries they had obtained.
"Get back to Hogwarts!" Buffy yelled, sending jinxes and curses to any Death Eater that approached. "Don't help anyone, don't fight, just get yourselves back to school." She said, and with that, she raced back into the crowd and was lost.
Immediately, Harry took off, making sure his friends were closely behind, the third years sandwiched between them. They deflected curses left and right, and were making progress when all of a sudden, the worst happened.
Dementors flew into the street, making the sky seem darker, and the screaming grew louder and everyone ran from the Dementors, towards Harry. Harry knew they had to make a choice, Dementors were in front of them and Death Eaters where behind them, but as the air grew colder and Harry could faintly hear screaming that he knew belonged to his mother, Harry made a decision and ran the way he had come.
The others followed his example, not before Hermione had whipped out her wand and, with her face screwed up, her eyes focused, she yelled "Expecto Patronum!" At once, a white glowing otter came out from her wand and charged at the incoming Dementors, but it was not strong enough and the otter faded quickly. Hermione ran back, past Harry, who gave his own Expecto Patronum just as Ron and Ginny did theirs, and a stag, a large dog that reminded Harry of Sirius and a large bird charged at the Dementors, sending some of them tumbling back from them. Satisfied, Harry ran, and realised with a pang that they had lost Blaise, Neville and Luna as well as all the third years.
Deciding not to think about them anymore, Harry dodged curses and spells as he pulled Ginny along with him, Hermione and Ron already sprinting ahead. He saw the two of them turn into a small path, obscured by an overgrown bush and he pulled Ginny by her wrist into the path, and gasped with relief as he saw Hermione and Ron resting against the wall. The path was a dead end, but Harry was relieved for the rest and the time to formulate a plan. He looked back out at the street, still busy as Death Eaters fought with Aurors and now, Dementors swooped down on the pedestrians as they ran.
He turned back to his friends, Hermione, whose head was rested against the wall, her eyes closed, Ginny who was gently rubbing her wrist and Ron who stared out at the street with fearful eyes.
Those eyes that seemed to getting wider and wider.
Harry turned around, and his heart leapt up into his throat as he saw Death Eaters at the foot of the path, blocking any way of escape, seemingly smiling haughtily.
Behind him, Harry's friends tightened behind him, he could just see Ginny's flaming red hair and Hermione's bushy brown hair in the corners of his eyes. He realised with a pang that it was two to one, in the Death Eaters advantage, and they were blocking any way of escape.
"Harry Potter we meet again." Said the Death Eater nearest to him, and Harry realised that it was Lucius Malfoy. "I trust you are well?" He said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"What do you want?" Harry said with a sneer. "There are no prophecies here to get, nothing worth your interest, so just leave us."
The Death Eaters laughed, and Harry recognised the crazy, manic laugh that belonged to Bellatrix Lestrange on the far left.
"You are in fact mistake, Potter." Malfoy said coldly. "We have come on orders, to take you back to the Dark Lord. You can come quietly, or we can do it the hard way, either way, you will be coming with us."
Harry nervously at each Death Eater, noting their heights and builds. He had to find a way to get them out, a spot where it would be easiest to barge their way through…
"Harry won't be going anywhere with you." Ron said fiercely behind Harry, and the Death Eaters laughed.
Harry shifted on his feet, his wand by his side, but he knew it was pointless to use it, for they were outnumbered and overpowered. "Why does Voldemort want me anyway?"
A murmur ran through the Death Eaters, no doubt at Harry's use of their master's name. But they did not say anything.
"Come on, I really want to know. What does Voldemort want with me?" Harry asked persistently.
"You jest, again, Potter." Bellatrix said angrily, and Harry cracked a wry grin.
"'Fraid not. I'm genuinely curious." Harry said, hoping that the others were formulating a plan behind him. His mind was completely blank.
"Very well." Malfoy said loudly, silencing the Death Eaters mutters. "Potter wants to know, and he shall know." Malfoy turned to Harry, and spoke with the coldest tone Harry had ever heard. "The Dark Lord wishes to end it. The Dark Lord wishes to end you."
Harry's heart was fluttering madly in his chest, more so than ever, and he could feel his hands were slick with nervous sweat. "Oh yeah? What's the difference now than from the other times he's tried to kill me?" Harry said, hoping that the Death Eater's could not hear his panic in his voice.
"The Dark Lord knows how." A Death Eater said next to Malfoy, and the curse flashed in Harry's mind.
"Enough of this!" Malfoy said loudly, angrily. "Come with us Potter, nicely, and we won't hurt any of your friends." He said, holding out his wand menacingly. The other Death Eaters did the same, and unconsciously, Harry took a step back and felt something under his foot. Someone grabbed his shirt and pulled him discreetly backwards, closer, and Harry saw that it was Hermione. Ron and Ginny were closing into them also, for protection.
"I will never come with you." Harry said angrily. "If Lord Voldemort wants me, then he'll have to come and get me himself."
Malfoy's wand hand shook with rage as he said through clenched teeth- "Insolent, naive little boy! How dare you-"
Three shouts of "Impedimenta!" and "Stupefy!" interrupted Malfoy, and several of the Death Eaters were pushed by an invisible force towards Harry, knocking down the rest of them.
Harry knew it was their chance and grabbed the robes of the person closest-Hermione- and pulled her through and over the fallen Death Eaters, stepping on tangled limbs and faces as they ran towards their saviours-Neville, Luna and Blaise- and away from the alley as beams of red and green light shot over their heads from recovered Death Eaters.
Blaise, Luna and Neville got a head start and immediately disappeared into the thinning frenzied crowds. Harry followed, Hermione on his heels who repeatedly turned back to see if Ginny and Ron were following. Harry vaguely registered seeing Kingsley take on two Death Eaters and Moody another three, but in a flash they had disappeared from sight as they ran on, and unfortunately, so had Neville, Luna and Blaise.
Harry slowed down as several Dementors swooped down on them, and realised that Ginny and Ron were not far behind. He told them to keep running, and whipped out his wand, bellowing "Expecto Patronum!" with Hermione and Ron's faces in his mind, at every Dementor he could see.
He turned as he saw Death Eaters running after them, and he imagined Lucius Malfoy's pale face contorted in fury, and with a satisfied grin, ran in the direction the others had gone in, down the main road back to Hogwarts.
He ran as fast as he could, sprinting away from the Death Eaters on his heels, dodging the green and red bolts of light. He hurried past the gate with the sign overhead that said 'Hogsmeade' and sprinted down the gravel path, his heart sinking as Hermione, Ginny and Ron did not come into view on the long road.
He did not have to look far, because near the gate, surrounded by a green trees and a fairly overgrown bush, three masked Death Eaters came out, with their gloved hands over the mouths of Ron, Hermione and Ginny.
"You have no choice now." Said Lucius Malfoy, panting slightly as he appeared under the sign surrounded by Death Eaters. "Come with us, or they'll die."
Harry looked at his friends and saw that Hermione was shaking her head vigorously, fat tears rolling down her cheeks. Ginny was slowly turning blue-the hand around her throat was too tight- and Ron was squirming in the Death Eaters hold.
It seemed as if a flash of light awoke him, but the words of the curse 'Aequus Malus' flashed in his mind, and Harry realised that if he went with them, he could finish this once and for all. Harry could defeat Voldemort.
He stepped closer to the Death Eaters, and Hermione screamed 'no' loudly, while Ron squirmed even harder in the Death Eater's grasp. Ginny's eyes were fluttering closed, and Harry realised it was now or never.
Harry bowed his head in shame and took another step forward, when another voice, a deeper and more commanding one that shook with anger, made Harry stop.
"Stay where you are Harry." Dumbledore said, his face white with rage.
All at once, the Death Eaters squealed in terror and fled from the path, scrambling in all directions. Just like he had done last year, Dumbledore gestured with his wand and several Death Eaters jerked back with an invisible string.
That was all Harry needed, and he belted his way towards his friends. Ron had gotten free and was stuck in a duel with his captor. Hermione was struggling against hers, and Ginny flopped limply against the Death Eaters arms. The Death Eater holding Ginny looked up at Harry, and he swore that the Death Eater was grinning under his mask, but the next moment, the Death Eater had disapparated, with Ginny in his arms.
"GINNY!" Ron cried in outrage, and he took out his anger on the Death Eater in front of him, dodging and sending a flurry of curses and spells so fast that the Death Eater was actually retreating.
Hermione meanwhile, glanced at the spot Ginny had just been, then at the Death Eater holding her, and then at Harry, locking gazes with him. Her eyes were glassy, shining with unshed tears, and Harry's breath caught in his throat as he realised what was about to happen.
"HARRY!" She yelled, and Harry ran faster, but it was no use, for by the time he had reached them, the Death Eater had pulled out his wand, and had disapparated, with Hermione kicking and squirming in his arms.
Harry let out a yell of fury as Hermione disappeared as he reached them, his hands out to grab her hand but only grabbing fistfuls of air instead. The Death Eater Ron had been fighting had disapparated and he stared at the places Hermione and Ginny had just been.
"Harry! Ron!" Harry whipped around, staring into the fray of Aurors and Death Eaters, and saw Buffy emerge, her blonde hair a mess, her clothes torn and stained with blood. "Get back to Hogwarts, now!"
"They've taken Hermione." Harry said desperately, "They've taken Hermione and Ginny."
Buffy's voice faltered only a moment before shaking her head and saying, "It doesn't matter. Get back to the castle right now!"
Harry stared at her, not knowing how she could say that, and with a sigh, Buffy stepped closer to Harry, taking his hand and looked up to his eyes. "Just go back Harry. We'll find a way to get them back." Buffy said, her calm voice reassuring Harry.
He nodded, stepping away from her and grabbing a fistful of Ron's robes before running as fast as he could away from the fray, down the gravel dirt path and back up to the castle he loved so much.
The run back to Hogwarts was a blur to him, but all Harry knew was that he had dragged Ron along, and he had not let go of Ron's robes. He knew that Ron was probably feeling even worse than him, for his sister had, not for the first time, been kidnapped. He remembered how Ron had reacted when he found out that Ginny had been kidnapped in their second year, the look on his face as he slid helplessly down the wooden walls of the wardrobe was imprinted on Harry mind as was the look on Ron's face now. Harry wanted desperately to tell Ron to buck it up, but whenever he turned to do so, Ron's slackened and pale face stopped him from doing so, and Harry only dragged him along harder.
Harry sighed in relief as he saw the cold, stone steps in front of the Hogwarts castle, and with a slightly lightened heart, he threw open the door and ran inside.
Immediately, students pounced on him with endless questions, but Harry was in no mood to tell them anything, not even to tell them to bugger off. He and Ron climbed the stairs purposefully, on the way to Dumbledore's office where they knew he would be shortly.
But as they were walking down the corridors, footsteps stopped them and Remus Lupin's pale face stopped them. He looked more tired than ever and directed them to Buffy's suite, and Harry and Ron made no objections.
Inside Buffy's room, he saw Neville, Luna and Blaise sitting on the couch, the three of them looking a little worse for wear but well all the same. Giles stood worriedly at the window, Faith on Charlie's lap by the fireplace, Xander and Anya by the portrait door, Willow on Tara's lap on a chair and Snuffles padding the length of the room, his black tail swishing behind him.
Neville and Blaise immediately stood up when they saw Harry and Ron, and questions were shot at the two of them, but all Harry said was "They took Hermione and Ginny," and that was enough.
Blaise sat back down, looking upset but slightly confused at his surroundings, Neville glanced at Ron before sitting and Luna stared at her hands. Giles came towards them, his glasses in his hands, his lips pursed in worry. "And Buffy?"
"She's fine." Harry said, and out of the corner of his eye, he saw Snuffles head lift. "Last I saw her; she was fighting the Death Eaters."
Harry collapsed onto one of the chairs, seeing that Ron had already, his red head was in his hands, and Harry could tell that his shoulders were shaking slightly.
Harry looked away painfully, not wanting to see his best friend break down into tears.
He was not sure how long they sat there, staring at their hands, talking in muted whispers. However, when the portrait door finally opened and Buffy came in, breathless, everyone jumped up and bombarded her with questions and hugs.
"Dumbledore is coming." Buffy said, once everyone had quieted down and Sirius had stopped barking. "He'll be here soon, and then-"
"Then we can find my sister." Ron said hoarsely. "Then we can find Ginny and Hermione."
Buffy looked kindly at Ron, but when she spoke again, she was looking at her hands. "I don't know Ron. It's going to take time."
Harry glared at Buffy, unknowingly imitating Ron's expression. "Ginny and Hermione don't have time! They could be…" Harry trailed off, not wanting to say what he and Ron both feared.
"We can't just storm into Voldemort's hideout." Buffy argued quietly, not wanting to upset Harry even further. "For one we don't know where it is-"
"Snape does!" Harry and Ron both argued fervently.
"And two, we'd be outnumbered. Aurors were hurt during that episode in Hogsmeade, and there are not enough people to cope-Harry, I'm sorry, it's going to take time." Buffy said sadly.
"Indeed." Dumbledore said, sweeping into the room through the portrait door. "It will take time Harry, Ron."
"HERMIONE AND GINNY DON'T HAVE TIME!" Harry yelled angrily, hating the old man that stood in front of him, his wise face composed in a calm manner, not at all affected by Harry's shouting-no doubt he had gotten used to it from last year. "How many time do I have to say it! WE NEED TO GO NOW!"
"Harry," Dumbledore said calmly, "It is simply not possible. Please calm yourself, while we think of a rational idea. There are simply not enough people to attack Voldemort, as Buffy has already pointed out. We need to recover from Hogsmeade, and we simply cannot go charging to Voldemort irrationally." Dumbledore sighed heavily. "I'm sorry Harry, it just cannot be done."
Harry listened angrily, hating the man as every word spewed out of him. Harry shook his head vehemently, and without saying a word, pushed past Buffy and Dumbledore and almost ran out of the room.
If Dumbledore wouldn't do it, then he would do it himself, Harry decided. He would save Hermione and Ginny. If they left it too late…
Harry closed his eyes; not wanting to know what could happen if they arrived too late. He leant against the wall, his head pressed against it, his eyes closed and his fists clenched in anger. He could still see Ron's expression as Ginny was taken, Hermione's tears and yells as she disappeared- and Harry decided that he never wanted to see that again. He would finish it. He would finish it tonight.
"Hey, Potter."
Harry's eyes flickered open to see Blaise Zabini standing right in front of him, a large cut on the right side of his pale face.
"What do you want?" Harry spat angrily, but Blaise did not seem affronted by Harry's tone.
"To help." Blaise said earnestly.
"With what?"
Blaise grinned and stepped closer to Harry, whispering "I know where Voldemort is."
As always, thank you to the reviewers who make my very cold and miserable day. :D
I should have done this a long time ago, but I'm searching for a beta for the end of this story and the sequel. This means that the beta will have to be ok with finding out the end of this story before everyone else, and to help me bounce ideas off him/her for the sequel. So if anyone is interested, please e-mail me or leave it in a review ASAP. Thanks!
And, as always, review! And sorry for the absurd length of this chapter, unfortunately, the next one is even longer...
