A Love Worth Fighting For
Chapter sixteen
Disasters and Hope
Disclaimer: Hermione: Star, the very talented writer star in a daze does not own Harry Potter, he is my boyfriend so I own him, and I hope she will be nice enough to tell me what is going to happen to him –winks-.
Star in a Daze: Hey everyone! I hope you aren't all in murder suicide mode right now! I mean Harry was in the last chapter, but I hope you aren't! I love you all! Please R&R!
RECAP!
"No, please Harry, have mercy". Harry looked at him and shook his head. He then pulled out the sword, and with a clean swipe the head fell to the ground.
The fire around Harry dimmed. He dropped the sword. It landed on the wooden floor with a clatter. Harry looked around the room, pushed past Lupin and ran.
Hermione screamed and then followed Harry out of the room, but Lupin stopped her.
"No Hermione, he needs to be alone right now, just leave him for a few moments, he'll be alright".
"But-"
"Trust me Hermione".
Harry ran out of the house. He had just murdered another human being. What Hermione must have thought of him? Hermione- what would she do now? She would never be able love him, not after what he did. She would surely leave him. But what would he do without her? He loved her more than anything. He wouldn't be able to live without her.
Harry had just gotten to the end of the street. He sat down and leaned against the street sign and laid his face in his hands, pulling his knees up to his chest. He looked down the street at the house. Tears formed in his eyes. He then stood up, put his wand hand out and the knight bus appeared.
"Welcome to the Knight Bus. Oh, look it's Harry Potter". Stan Shunpike said as he opened the door. "Where to?"
"Hogsmeade". Harry said dully. He nodded. Then the knight bus, with a jerk, started to move again. Within half an hour Harry was standing in Hogsmead, walking back to the school.
Hermione was worried. She had heard the front door slam closed. Harry was gone, and had been for almost an hour. She tried to contact him, but was blocked off by a wall of fire and fury.
"What can we do?" She asked. "We have to help him. He's alone out there, with Voldemort trying to kill him. I don't even know where he is. He's blocked me out of his mind". Ron went over to Hermione and put an arm around her shoulder. She leaned into his chest and cried. Ron hugged Hermione, but he made sure that he was staying loyal to Erin and Harry. Hermione couldn't stop crying. Finally, after about fifteen minutes she pushed herself out of Ron's arms and went to another room.
Harry was back in Hogwarts. He went to the Slytherin Common room and found Draco. He told him everything.
"Wow, that's quite a story Harry. Are you okay?" Harry nodded.
"Do you think I could stay here for a few days? I mean just until I can face everyone again?" Draco nodded.
"Of course, I'll help you get your stuff". Harry and Draco went back to Harry's room and they packed Harry's school books, robes and other necessities. They left the room and made their way back to the Slytherin Common room.
Draco, being a prefect, had his own room so no one cared that Harry was there. All of the Slytherin's knew that Draco and Harry were friends and they didn't really care... or they were too scared of him to state their opinions.
That night, after Harry and Draco got back to the common room Harry went straight to bed. He slept sporadically. He kept having visions of Peter's death. Finally it was morning and Harry got ready for classes.
Harry walked into the Great Hall for breakfast with Draco. The two of them sat at the Slytherin table, near the end where no one from the Gryffindor table, or the doors could see them. They rapidly ate breakfast and then went to class.
Harry walked into Care of Magical Creatures with Draco. He sat beside him and avoided eye contact with everyone.
Hermione looked at Harry as he sat down beside Draco. All of his school books had been missing when she came home the night before and he never came back. She tried to contact him with her mind, but the wall was still up.
Hagrid walked out of his hut and went to the front of the class.
"'Lo everyone". He said. "Today we will be starting lessons on a creature that has only just been allowed to be taught. I have an assistant hear with me to help me with the next few lessons. For the next month or so we will be learning about dragons". The class gasped, except, of course, Harry. He just looked like Hagrid said that they were studying Chipmunks. He really didn't care.
Draco started to get really worried about Harry. He kept looking at Hermione, who was sitting next to Ginny. Harry looked there whenever she was looking to the front of the class.
Hermione, Hermione heard her name. She looked at Harry.
Yes?
Can we talk after class?
Okay, why not now?
I need to talk to you in person. It's very important okay.
Okay.
Harry broke the connection and Hermione tried to tell him that she loved him, but the walls were up again.
Draco looked over at Harry.
"You okay?"
"Yes. I'm going to talk to Hermione after class. I told her that it was important so I know that she'll meet me".
"Okay, I don't think she's mad at you mate".
"She has to be though. I never wanted her to see me murder someone. I bet she thinks I'm a cold blooded murderer".
"She could never think that about you. You did what you had to do to keep everyone there safe. Peter was going to kill her if you didn't kill him. It was the right thing to do; anyone would have done the same thing if they were in that kind of position. You know they would have". Harry nodded.
"Now, I would like you to meet our guest". Hagrid continued. "He's traveled very far, but I'm sure you all know him. Please welcome Charlie Weasley. Charlie walked out onto the grass and smiled at everyone.
"Hi, I'm Charlie Weasley, just call me Charlie though. I've been studying dragons ever since I left Hogwarts. I've been in Romania, specializing in the Hungarian Horntail". Charlie continued to explain the types of dragons to the class and said that the next week he might bring a dragon hatchling to the class.
After everyone had left the class Hermione walked over to Harry. She leaned up for a kiss, but he didn't return it.
"We need to talk Hermione".
"Okay". Harry looked at her with those intense green eyes. Hermione knew that whatever Harry was going to say next was going to be painful for him to say. "What about Harry?" She asked softly. Harry looked in her eyes and sighed.
"I can't be with you anymore. I'm sorry Hermione, it's over".
Hermione felt like her heart had been thrown in front of a moving train. Her eyes filled with tears. Harry started to walk away, but Hermione wasn't going to let him go that easily.
"Harry James Potter, get back here". She said. Harry turned around and walked over to her. She stood tall and looked him in the eyes. "I thought you loved me". Harry looked into her honey colored eyes.
"I can't be with you".
"Why not?" Hermione touched Harry's face. "Do you not love me anymore?" Harry looked at her and struggled to hold back tears.
"No I don't". Hermione felt her heart shatter again. Harry turned to leave and Hermione burst into tears. Harry turned back to look at her. He couldn't stand to see her like that. He slowly walked back to her and lifted her face up, so she was looking into his eyes.
"I do love you Hermione". He said, his face full of emotion. "I love you more than I ever have. I don't know what I could ever do if you weren't by my side. But last night made me realize that the closer I am to you the closer you are to getting harmed. I couldn't bear to be the cause of your death. I wouldn't be able to cope with it. That is why I'm living with Draco now. I'm not close to you, so you are far from harm". Hermione stared at Harry, and then kissed him.
"Harry, no one is going to kill me. I love you Harry, and nothing is ever going to change that. You have to remember that I'll always love you. And if I do die, I'll know I died while being the happiest woman on earth. Do you know why?" Harry shook his head. "Because, I was lucky enough to fall in love with my best friend. I was lucky enough to know who I wanted to be with since the first time I saw you. I knew that if anything ever happened to you that I would die. I never believed in love at first sight. No one in my family ever has, but the second I laid eyes on you I fell in love. Not with the boy who lived, but with Harry Potter. The brave, fun-loving, sweetest, most loving person in the world. I always knew you were special Harry. Not because of your title, but because of you. You grew up never knowing your parents, never knowing friendship or love. It would drive most people into insanity, but you, you were brave through it all and you knew how to be the best friend anyone could ever ask for. To me, Ron, Ginny and even Draco. And we all love you. Harry, I would gladly die for you. If I could be with you, then I would walk up to Voldemort and tell him to kill me if I had to. Harry, I love you and nothing is going to change that and you might as well accept it. I'm not going to let you leave with out a fight". Harry looked at the girl. She had tears in her eyes and he knew that she was being sincere.
"I murdered someone Hermione; if I were you I would be disgusted with me".
"Harry, you did what you had to do. I know you didn't want to but you did it because you didn't want him to kill anyone else". She looked up at Harry and smiled. "I have your sword and scimitars up in our room. Let's go get them". Harry nodded, but before they left Harry pulled Hermione into a kiss. It only lasted a second, but it was the most heart felt kiss in their whole relationship. It was the kiss that told Harry and Hermione that they were going to be together forever, no matter what came between them, no matter what road lay ahead of them.
Harry ran into the Slytherin Common room. he walked into Draco's room, grabbed all of his stuff and he ran back to his room. Hermione was sitting there, waiting for him. Sitting on her lap was Kulin'afe, his sword and Cateroc and Tsian, his scimitars. He had christened his swords these names just a few nights before, after he started to learn Elvish. Kulin'afe (pronounced Koo-Lynn-a-fay) meant Delay of Evil, Cateroc (Pronounced cat-er-ok) meant Doom and Tsian (Pronounced see-an) meant Hope. He thought these names would help him grow more accustomed to his heritage.
Hermione handed Harry the weapons and Harry sheathed them. The two of them went downstairs for lunch. They met Draco there, sitting with Ginny at the Gryffindor table. They sat down just as Ron walked over, with his arm around Erin.
"Hey Harry". He said. "Are you okay?" Harry nodded.
"I'm fine. Hi Erin, are you two going out?" Ron nodded happily and Erin blushed.
"Yup. Now, Harry I need to talk to you about something. Do you have time before Charms?"
"Yeah, sure. Just let me finish my lunch".
"Okay". Erin and Ron sat down beside Harry. They all ate lunch and as soon as Harry ate his last bite Ron had him up and out of the Great Hall.
"Harry". Ron started. "When are you going to propose to her?"
"What makes you think I am?"
"Well, the fact that you are in love with her, and can't shut up about her. It is kind of obvious that you are going to".
"Not now". Ron shook his head and the two of them walked into the Great Hall again. Ron went over to Erin and kissed her on the cheek. Erin turned her head and she smiled. Harry and Hermione kissed and then they went to charms.
The next day was the first DA lesson for the sixth years with their weapons. Harry stood in front of his class and started to give instructions.
"Okay class. Today we will be starting to learn how to use our weapons. I would like everyone with a bow and arrows to go down to the dungeon with Professor Granger. She is going to teach you how to use them. I have set up targets, so I expect you to use them, and not each other". Everyone nodded and laughed. The people with the bows and arrows followed Hermione out of the room. "Now, for the rest of you, everyone with a sword, or a blade of any kind I need for you to go to the right side of the class, except for Draco and Ginny. I want you to learn how to use your scimitars so I'm going to teach you separately. Now, everyone else who didn't go into those categories please go to the left side of the room". Everyone went to their respected areas and Harry went to the people on the left side first. There were only two people there, Ron with his hammer and Padma Patil from Ravenclaw, who had a mace. He quickly explained how to use each of the weapons and went over to the rest of the group.
"Okay, now to use a bladed weapon you need balance. So before you use your weapons I want everyone to learn how to balance. Put your swords down". Everyone laid their swords on the ground and Harry conjured a rope. He hung it up, flat and he turned to the class. "No one is going to use their weapons until they can walk across this rope without falling, and then no one is going to battle with them until they can walk across it with their weapon in hand. I know this sounds a little extreme, but you all need to know how to balance yourselves". Everyone nodded and proceeded to try to walk across the rope.
Harry then walked over to Draco and Ginny. He pulled out his scimitars and started to attack Draco. Draco knew exactly what to do and he blocked the attack. They started a full on battle. Everyone stopped to watch them. The battle went on for about a half an hour, first Harry had the advantage, then Draco and then Harry again.
Finally Harry put on a burst of speed and Cateroc and Tsian flipped in an intense pattern and flipped Draco's scimitars (Heria and RiChona meaning Speed and Death) out of his hands. Before Draco could react Harry had Tsian to Draco's throat and Cateroc ready to slice the stomach. The class started to cheer and Harry put down Cateroc and Tsian.
He turned to Ginny and smiled.
"Do you think you could do that?" He asked her. She shook her head. "It comes naturally to elves. Just try. I won't hurt you, I have good dexterity". He then lifted Tsian and swung it at her head. She put up hers. They fought for a few minutes and then Ginny, losing her head completely, tried to swing both of her scimitars at Harry, at the same place. He held Caderoc to block them and used Tsian to flip them out of her hands. "No bad Ginny, but try to keep your scimitars apart, if you are battling against someone with two weapons you will need the other one to block the other weapon". Ginny nodded.
"Okay". She nodded. For the rest of the class Harry taught Ginny how to use the scimitars. She also taught her some of the elvish words so she could name them. After a lot of thought she decided to name them Afain (pronounced ay-fayn) and Kay'lach (pronounced kay-lak) which mean shadow eater and cutter.
Over November Harry and Hermione got closer. There came a time where they knew everything about each other. On December 5th Harry and Hermione were in the Gryffindor Common room talking to Ginny, Ron and Erin. They noticed a sign on the bulletin board about the Yule Ball. It was for fourth years and up and it was on Christmas Day from 6:30pm-1:00am. Harry and Hermione knew about it of course. They had even helped plan it, but the decorations and the band were going to be a surprise.
Harry decided that even though he and Hermione were going out and would go to the dance together anyway, he would ask her to go with him.
That night he went up to her while she was brushing her hair and got down on one knee.
"Hermione, will you do me the honor of coming to the Yule Ball with me?" Hermione looked at him and started to laugh.
"Of course I will". She leaned down and kissed him.
A few days later Harry went to talk to Lupin.
"Hey Moony". Harry said one day after Defense Against the Dark Arts. "Can I talk to you for a minute?"
"Of course".
"Hermione". Harry said turning to her. "I'll meet you in the Great Hall; I just have to talk to Moony for a moment". She nodded, kissed him quickly and went with Ron and Erin to the Great Hall.
"So Harry, what can I do for you?" Harry shifted awkwardly.
"Well, I wanted to talk to you about Hermione".
"Okay. Why don't you sit down, you look like you are about to faint". Harry nodded and sat down on a desk.
"I wanted your opinion on something. I wanted to know what you thought of this". Harry handed Lupin the Engagement ring that had been his mothers. Lupin took it and gasped.
"This was Lily's Engagement ring". He said smiling.
"Do you think that Hermione would like it?" Lupin looked at Harry, shocked.
"Harry, you're only sixteen". Harry nodded.
"I know I'm young, but I'm old enough to know that I love Hermione and that she loves me. I know that we'll eventually get married, so why not get engaged? We could stay engaged until we graduate. I just think that Hermione wants to get an Engagement ring. She's so excited about Ginny and Draco's wedding and I think she's wondering if I would ever want to get married. I just want to know if I have your support on this". Lupin studied Harry's face. It was obvious that Harry really wanted Lupin to support him, but would still propose even if he didn't.
"Of course you have my support. I always knew that you would get married to her". Harry smiled.
"Thank you Remus". Harry stood up and hugged him. "I've got to go meet Hermione, Draco and Ginny now. Bye". Harry left and Lupin smiled.
Star in a Daze: So, what do y'all think. Harry has Lupin's support, and he's all excited. I hope Hermione says yes... what if she doesn't? dun dun dun shifty eyes Lol, I guess you better wait and see! Please review!