Disclaimer: The characters (for the most part) in this story are not mine, and none of them are making me any money.

Enjoi!


"Is it better to live on our knees in the light than to stand in the dark?" Ron asked Harry.

"I believe so. I can rise from my knees, and meet darkness head on with light." Harry answered.

"And you will won't you? Meet the darkness head on…"

"Yes Ron, I will. I have lost too much to Voldemort. I few short weeks ago I didn't believe I would be able to kill him. Now I have no doubt that I must."

"Why you though?" Ron asked, fear and concerned etched onto his features.

"Perhaps we should gather Hermione and Ginny for this; I'd rather explain it once. Besides, you can all get the questions out of the way then too."

Ron nodded his head, and the two left Gryffindor tower.


"Salvation must fall!" Voldemort hissed to his amassed followers. Various yells echoed throughout the hollow chamber.

"Dumbledore must die!"

A loud "YEAH!" could be heard above the rest.

"This last obstacle stands between us and complete domination!"

Various yells of "kill the blood traitors" and "death to those in our way" racked the room.

"Who here will go with me to end Salvation? Who here will die to bring down Hope?"

Every black robed member present yelled in unison that they would indeed do what was necessary for their master to succeed.


"The prophecy was not lost at the Ministry," Harry said to his gathered friends.

One face was staring at him blankly, one had a questioning gaze, and the last had a grim acceptance. He continued,

"It basically says that either I or Voldemort has to die. It also says it has to be at the hand of the other."

Ron nodded, already figuring this out. Hermione was the only reaction Harry had guessed rightly on, horror filled her eyes. Ginny just looked at him.

"That's it?" she asked.

"Yeah, pretty much, that's the gist of it."

"And Sirius died for that?" Ginny asked with a chill in her voice.

Guilt, sadness, hatred, all welded up in Harry's stomach. He replied with a choked, "Yes."

"Dumbledore thought my father's life was worth protecting that little tidbit of information?" Ginny's voice grew a little louder. "My mother's! My brothers'!"

"That's what they were guarding," Harry answered her meekly.

"Well," Ginny's voice was calm again, her face again blank, "that was stupid."

"I agree," Harry said in remorse.

"He was only doing what needed to be done," Hermione said in a small voice.

"Mr. Weasley could have died Hermione," Harry said, Ron and Ginny gave him an incredulous look. "Sorry, it hasn't sunk in that he is dead," Harry murmured.

"Well he is, thanks Harry," Ginny said in a dead voice. Harry's eyes widened.

"Wha…What do you mean?"

"Your little scar is gone; through the link with him he saw what he believes was the last moment of your life. People were wrong Harry; Dumbledore isn't the only one he ever feared. He feared you. You ripped him from his body. You foiled his plans all these years. Then, when he thought you were dead, he went on his killing spree."

Ginny effectively shut herself off from the rest of the room. Harry was on the verge of doing the same when Ron spoke up.

"What's done is done, we can either live with it, or we can't. I can. It wasn't Harry's fault Voldemort killed our dad or our brother. It was Voldemort's, and Voldemort's alone. Voldemort made his choices, now it is our turn to make ours."

"What are you saying?" Hermione asked in a fearful voice.

"That I will stand beside Harry, and kill any who get in our way."

"And what if I get in your way? Death is not the answer."

"I didn't mean it like that Hermione. And just look at the prophecy, sometimes death is the answer."

Hermione's face looked lost. She didn't know what to do or say. So…she cried. Ron knelt down to where she was sitting to comfort her. Harry gave a small smile, sometimes the little things of the world held all the hope he needed.


Remus Lupin was at the top of the astronomy tower. He and Dumbledore were discussing defense and contingency plans. He gave a sniff of the air, something familiar, and something vile.

"Pettigrew is here," the werewolf snarled. Dumbledore nodded and Lupin was in a dead run down the stairs.


Harry had done something he had never even thought of before. He scaled Gryffindor Tower, and was now perched on the roof. He was letting his thoughts drift. His eyes unfocused as the giant squid had its tentacles skimming the water. He was extremely hurt over what Ginny had said in the past few days. He felt closer to her now more than ever, and at the same time more distant than ever before. Half of him wanted to leave, to never see her again, to let her free of the misery that was Harry. The other half wanted to hold her close, to whisper sweet nothings into her ear, to share with her what he could never share before. Yet here he was, on the roof of an ancient castle, no closer to any answers.

Movement broke is train of thought. Someone was running towards the Forbidden Forrest. Harry focused and was aware that it was Lupin. Curiosity overcame him as he pulled out his wand.

"Accio Firebolt!" he called as he concentrated. Not sure if it would work, he was surprised when the broom was hovering in front of him. Evidently the toad of a woman hadn't done anything to rash.

Harry mounted the familiar broom and was off, traveling fifty feet above the only friend his parents had left alive.


"I don't know what to think anymore," Ginny said morosely.

Hermione had quit crying but Ron still rubbed her back in small circles.

"What do you mean Ginny?" Hermione asked her.

"Everything changed in the blink of an emerald eye. I don't know what to think."

"You know this isn't Harry's fault," Ron said in a firm voice.

"I know, it's just, it's always around Harry," she let out in a cry.

"I know," her brother sighed.

"I don't know anymore," Ginny started to breakdown. Hermione scooted closer to the younger girl.

"What is it that you no longer know?"

"If I should love him or hate him. Should I kill him or kiss him? Will this ever stop? Will he ever be normal? Will I…?"

"Only you can answer that," Ron said as a look of shock crossed Hermione's face.

"I just wish things could have been different…with everything. I wish my whole life had been." Ginny finally lost all composure as she sobbed into Hermione's shoulder.


Remus was scanning the wooded area, searching. His wand was at the ready, Harry couldn't see a thing. Then, a jerk of the hand, a blue glow, it was all so familiar. There he was now standing ten feet away from Lupin.

Peter Pettigrew, Death Eater and betrayer. Harry gripped his wand at the sight of the pathetic man. He was happy he was far away enough to not hear the squeaky voice of the man responsible for so much death that clouded Harry's heart.

But he was talking, so was Lupin. Pettigrew fell to his knees, a racked sob reached Harry's ears. Contempt filled his very soul.

Lupin slowly made his way toward Pettigrew. His wand still ready, he was going to bind his old friend.

Harry muttered, "Kill him," even if Lupin couldn't hear. Then it happened. Pettigrew sprang up from his position with agility and skill that was not fitting for the short pudgy man that looked like a rat.

His silver hand wrapped around Lupin's neck. The anguished cry filled Harry's ears from even this height. A single thought crossed his mind, he had to save Lupin. Focusing on Pettigrew an ancient spell from one of the old books of Black came into his mind.

"Effrego!" he shouted and was satisfied when the man jumped off the werewolf. Small cuts began to open on their own accord all along the body of the rat. Harry knew if he didn't lift the curse the man would die, he also knew that the rat could provide some useful information. Harry decided to let the betrayer live, but not with that hand.


Dumbledore had amassed most of the Order, excluding Harry and Remus for they hadn't been found. He had the leaders of Salvation there too, ready to be inducted. Ginny, Ron, and Hermione were also present to be inducted. Surprisingly Molly Weasley had no objections.

He needed to reinforce the defense of the castle; Tom had announced to the world that this was the next location that would be hit. Lupin's keen sense of smell knew Pettigrew was scouting the area, probably looking for weak spots. He needed Remus back since he probably knew more about the castle than even he himself. He needed Harry back so he could become a full member.

He needed his troops, so he sent Hagrid to look for them.


Harry strode into the Headmaster's office. Gasps and murmurs broke out along with not so quiet whispering. Apparently not everyone had been informed that he was in fact still alive.

"Harry, where were you?" Dumbledore asked gently.

"Helping a wolf catch a rat," Harry replied with ice in his eyes.

"I see," the old man nodded with a twinkle in his eye. Hagrid came into the room and went to Dumbledore and whispered some things into his ear. He nodded to the half giant; at the nod the man to big to be allowed left the room.

"New business first, I want to welcome some new members…"


The meeting was, for lack of a better word, boring in Harry's opinion. The defense of the castle was priority number one. Harry divulged his knowledge of every secret passage that he knew of. He even handed the Marauder's Map over to his professors in hopes they could either duplicate it or figure out how to make more. Once Lupin was well enough he would lead this task. Hermione was also put on the job.

Security for tomorrow's funeral was also setup. It was high priority since over half the Order was going to be attending. It was revealed that out of his love for Muggles, Arthur Weasley would have a Muggle ceremony. Percy on the other hand was going to have a Wizarding ceremony. Harry realized then that he didn't know about either one of them.

Other details were discussed. Voldemort's movements, who and what had joined up with him, as well as trying to form some sort of order in the middle of the chaos that had become of the Wizarding world. Dumbledore also explained to everyone what exactly had happened with Grimmauld Place. Harry was ticked to say the least.

When it was all said and done with Harry was glad. He and his friends slowly made their way to Gryffindor Tower. Inside Ron and Hermione went straight to bed. Harry and Ginny ended up in chairs facing each other but neither met the other's eyes. They sat, letting everything that had happened over the past few weeks wash over them. They sat, having everything to say to one another, and nothing at all.


A/N: There are some lines in this chapter that I absolutely love. Including the last one. How about anyone that really likes a certain line from this chapter leave it in the review. It'll help when I'm writing the next. Just wanted to let ya'll know that and run the idea by you guys.

Nightstone: I'm glad you reviewed. This is indeed my heavier story, as it was spawned from the more serious part of me. I hope to hear form you again.

Fanastygirl721: Hmm, will Hermione be able to cast a killing curse...good question ; ) Well, I do love getting reviews (I didn't really think it would effect me but it does) and I look forward to hearing from you with each chapter I post. No pressure of coarse. But your comments do have me blushing, I really am happy you are enjoying these stories. This chapter has Harry's sight coming into play, the rest will come into affect later, I'm not sure if the rest will be offered the potion or not. Let me know what you think.

SirusLivesOn: I'm so happy you left such a wonderful review. This story has always been about trying to keep the emotions and reactions of four different teens real and believable. It's tricky with the four personalities, but I'm trying. Yes, Molly will have a bad day tomorrow (as in chapter 8), I'm at a loss for how to write it, but it will be out soon I hope. Therefore, more is coming : ).