Disclaimer: Buffy characters are the property of Mr. Whedon. Harry Potter characters are the property of Ms. Rowling. I do own the story that I am writing, but I'm just borrowing the characters for a little while. So, yeah, if you decide to sue... I'm uber-broke.
Through the Looking Glass
Chapter 21
Let it Snow, Snow, Snow
Hermione smiled to herself as Ron grasped her hand. She loved the feeling when their fingers were intertwined. It made her feel complete.
"What're you thinking about?" Ron smirked at Hermione. The snow had just begun to fall and they had decided to take the opportunity to walk the grounds. He had remembered Hermione saying something about falling snow being romantic. He didn't understand why... it was just a bunch of white flakes floating to the ground.
"You," Hermione stated plainly. She smiled and kicked a bit of snow from her shoe.
"About how ruggedly handsome, I am."
"Of course." Hermione giggled and sighed.
"Oh, what is it now?" Hermione could hear the slight bit of fear in Ron's voice. That was something that Hermione did find slightly tiring about Ron. Any time that they would talk about their relationship, he would rather die of a lethifold attack than just talk like to normal wizards in love.
"Nothing." Hermione shook her head. "Don't worry about it."
They were silent for a few minutes, until finally Ron spoke. "Hermione?"
"Hmm?"
"Is it... wrong... that I keep thinking about our seventh year?" Hermione looked up into Ron's face. It was full of pain. "I mean, we didn't accomplish anything. Dolohov just took over after Harry beat V-V-"
"Oh, for heaven's sake Ron! Voldemort!" Hermione still couldn't understand why so many wizards couldn't say Voldemort. She figured the looming shadow of Voldemort was going to stay over all of wizard kind.
"Yeah, him." Ron muttered. "I mean; so many lives have been taken."
"I know," Hermione agreed with a whisper. "It's hard to get past those things."
"Do you think about it?" Ron strengthened his hold on Hermione's hand.
"I dream about it, mostly. I see that green light head straight for Neville every time... and then I wake up as soon as he falls." Hermione shook the thought out of her head.
"I just wonder if his death was in vain."
"We can't live through the past, Ron." Hermione raised her voice, slightly. She didn't want to seem bossy, but it seemed the only possible way to get Ron's thoughts away from the past. "We have to focus on the task at hand. We have to help Harry."
"I know," Ron nodded in agreement.
Hermione knew that Ron thought she was right. And that was the end of that matter.
x x x x x
Harry finished scribbling a few more notes for Nigel Isler to pick up later. He thought that Nigel ought to know all about what was going on... just in case he didn't know what was going on.
After finishing the last sentence, he placed the quill on the bench beside him and looked up. He had been this close to the Veil many times. And no matter what the reason behind his coming to the Veil, he would always think back to his fifth year when his godfather had passed through the same veil.
Standing up, Harry walked slowly towards the center of the room. He stepped up onto the dais and paused. Harry heard a few whispers that he couldn't make out, but as he walked closer, the whispers began to clear.
"Come to us."
"Walk with us."
"Sirius is with us."
"Harry you must meet with him."
Harry nodded his head. He would meet with his godfather! After all these years with no word... he would finally be able to talk with Sirius again. A smile crept on his lips as he pulled the curtain to one side and stepped into darkness.
Harry opened his eyes and gasped for breath. It wasn't the first time that he had had that very dream. The voices would call to him and he would walk into the darkness. He usually would drink a bit of potion to keep the dreams from coming to him in his sleep, but on the nights where he forgot... or the times when he would drift off during the day... he would find himself in front of the Veil. Of course, there were the occasional dreams of Voldemort and his parents, but they were few and far between the Veil dreams.
Harry sat up and rubbed his temples. The headache was immense, but he had them so often, that it was merely a blip on the radar of "What's Wrong With Harry Potter." He threw the covers off of his legs and reached for his glasses.
Knowing that a glass of water was the best thing for a late night rendezvous with the kitchen; he got out of bed quickly. As he passed the small red orb; he realized that he had a message waiting for him.
Noos nruter lliw ehs. You will be needed at Hogwarts.
Harry realized immediately that it was from Hermione. She always had a small flourish over her I's that made it easy to see which messages were sent by her. He smiled. Of course he would be needed at Hogwarts. The leader of the fight against Dolohov would have to be there when she arrived. Harry didn't realize how quickly December had snuck up on him.
x x x x x
Harry had apparated just outside of Hogwarts and then had decided that he needed the walk through the snow to clear some of his mind. As he passed the gates, the looming fortress of Hogwarts welcomed him with a glittering gleam of white and stone.
Harry had almost reached the castle, when he heard voices close to where he was. The falling snowflakes were growing large by the second; so Harry had to get closer to see exactly who was making all the noise.
"Ron!"
As a grin spread on his face, he saw his two best friends trying to make their way through what Harry could only describe as a blizzard.
"It was you who wanted to walk in the snow... HERMIONE!"
"Oh, grow up!"
Harry squinted through the swirling snow and decided to surprise his friends.
"Look!" Ron began to yell at the top of his lungs. "WHY ARE YOU ALWAYS ACTING LIKE YOU KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT EVERYTHING?"
"Because I do!" Hermione shouted back, though not as loudly. "You weren't made Head Girl, were you?"
"I SHOULD HOPE NOT!" Ron screamed over the wind. "Dad would've fainted if he found out that I'd been named Head GIRL, Hermi-OW!"
"Ron, wha-HEY!"
They had both just been hit by enormous snowballs. Hermione yanked out her wand, ready for the person to show himself or herself so that she could turn them into a frog with lovely pink eyes. She noticed that Ron had also pulled out his wand.
"Come out!" Ron threatened, his wand high in the air.
"Ha!" Harry laughed out loud and revealed himself. "Going to hex a friend, old man?"
"Harry!" Ron yelled over the wind, he began to push through the snow that was beginning to accumulate even faster than before. Ron placed his wand away.
"Harry!" Hermione ran ahead of Ron and gave Harry a large hug. "I see you got my message."
"At one o'clock in the morning," Harry winked.
"You said to send them whenever I wanted," Hermione retorted with a slight smile.
"Oh, shut up, Hermione," Ron patted his friend on the back. "Glad to see you, mate. Really I am." The three friends paused for a moment, in the snow and smiled at each other. "How about we go inside to warm up?"
x x x x x
x chapter's end x
After Thoughts: Yes, it was a short chapter. And, yes, it did take me forever to write a short chapter. But, hey, the next chapter might be the longest I have ever written... so there! It follows the Lost way of telling stories... through Flashbacks. Wooh!
If you read, please review! Thanks!
Look forward to Ch. 22 entitled:
Under the Whomping Willow
An old friend returns.
