Title Is It Worth It 2: The Final Battle

SummaryThe temptation of darkness ebbs away at Harry's last nerve as he attempts to keep his views out of public eyes. Everyone believes he has returned to the light, but has he really or is he fighting for both dark and light, inside himself and in the impending war.

Sequel to: Is It Worth It?

Pairings: none now

Rating: PG13

Disclaimer: It gets really boring when you have to write this all the time...

A/n: THANKS TO:

Dragonic-believe me that wasn't a cliffy, you'd be hanging by your fingertips if it was...

Lily

RealBlueLightSaber: Well you got your wish, it will still be shorter than my last but around 14 chapters. Sorry. I'm a junior so grades this year count. Hehe :)

HoshiHikary

Ailisa D. Frieson

HedwigPig

ShatteredxDream

WARNING! CHARACTER BASHING!

Chapter 9 "Alliance among enemies"

"Harry! Time to get up lazy head!" Harry groaned as Remus shook his awake. He brushed the man away and buried his head under the pillow. Remus chuckled and grabbed the pillow and the blanket before Harry had the chance to snatch either one back.

Harry yawned and glared up at his godfather. "What time is it?"

"You slept through the day, it's almost two. Get dressed, Anthony wants us to join him in the dining hall." Remus threw back the covers and the pillow at him and left.

Harry groaned and dropped back on the bed. He stretched out as far as his body would let him, then got dressed.

It had been a week since they disappeared from the world. When they first appeared in France at Anthony's home, Anthony had offered him and Remus a place to stay. At first they had refused, planning to go somewhere farther from England, but when Anthony presented them the west wing of the mansion, they decided to stay.

The place was massive with luxury rooms, a pool, gym and video game room that was every boy's dream. They had immediately decided to stay. After a long day of casting protection spells and glamour charms on the house and themselves, they were too exhausted to do anything but take advantage of what was given. Anthony had lived alone, with only his maids and butlers to keep him company, so it was only natural that Harry and Remus used their time to lighten the old man's world.

Harry entered the dining hall and walked over to the long table where the two men sat conversing.

"...I'll try and see what I can do." Anthony was saying.

"I'll contact Dumbledore and–"

"You will not!" Both of the men jumped and turned sharply to look at Harry. He was angry, and when he was angry energy crackled around him.

"Harry, we need to tell Dumbledore where we are. Things aren't good back home, they need our help." Remus said gently.

Harry glared at him, "You promised Remus, I thought you said your loyalty was towards me only," He winced inwardly at the painful flicker in Remus' eyes.

"Everyone's worried, Harry. We need to contact them and tell them that we're okay. You need to speak to Ron and Hermione."

"No Remus! I don't want anything to do with this war. It cost me enough and now that I've escaped I won't be going back. If you want to go get yourself killed, be free."

"Remus is right, Harry. Your world needs help, Tom's been quite active since you left. You need to at least talk to some of them," Anthony spoke. Harry sent him a glare.

"You do what you want, I'm not going back there. Not after the Prophet's last issue."

Remus stood up and came to stand in front of him, he put his hands on Harry's tensed shoulders.

"We can't hide from this Harry, this is your war whether you like it or not. You cannot pretend that you don't hear their cries."

"Oh yeah, cries. Their cries of how the blasted boy-who-lived deserted them, how he permanently joined Voldemort. How much crap do I have to put up from them, Remus? Wouldn't you let them fix their own problems if you were in my place?"

"We need to go back, we can't leave them in his hands. You don't have to do what Dumbledore tells you. Can't you just go and fight this for you? For your parents and your friends? For Sirius?"

"Voldemort didn't kill Sirius, Bella did and I dealt with her! I have nothing to do with this war anymore. I'm finished! You hear me, finished!"

Remus narrowed his eyes and glared at his godson, "You'd rather let everyone get killed than get over your damn pride and help them? You're more like Voldemort, then."

Harry wrenched himself away from Remus' arms and stared at him, eyes glistening. "If that's the way you really think of me, than you're no better than the others." Before Remus could say another word, Harry turned and ran.

La Rochelle was a very beautiful and warm city in April. The ocean was also beginning to warm up. People of all sorts walked or sunned on the beach.

Harry sat at one of the tables at the food stand, watching everyone. His mind was not on the people, but far from France or Rochelle.

Am I really turning out to be just like him? Was Remus telling the truth? Have I really gotten that cold?

He shut his eyes and put his arms over his head. His mind going over the conversation he had with the two men not moments ago.

"Problems, Potter?" Harry's eyes shot open and he jumped from his table.

"What're you doing here?"

"I'm on vacation, what'd you think?"

"I could come up with ten different reasons why you off all people should be hanging around this place. Especially a place with women half naked. It is very appeasing to a vampire, isn't it?"

"Harry, why so cold, I thought we were friends?"

Harry's eyes sparked, "I promised I'd kill you Kage, I never said anything about being friends. Now what're you really doing here?"

"I've got a message from ol' Voldie. It says that if "you don't come back here at once I will kill everyone you have","

Harry stared at him before a laugh escaped his lips, "He's bluffing."

Kage stared at him, "I'd pay attention to what he's saying now, Potter. Voldie isn't a very happy camper right now. Dumbledore's been peeving him off and the ministry's not happy about finding their fat idiot of a minister dead on their doorstep."

"Tell Voldemort that I'm not interested, that I'm through with whatever he has planned. I don't care about anyone there, so I wouldn't mind if he burned them alive, they're all bastards."

"What the fuck are you talking about! Have you gone completely out of your mind? Has Voldie brain washed you that much that you don't even care for the only people that ever stood by your side? Wake up and smell the coffee, Potter. This isn't a game anymore, he's truly going to do everything he can to gain control of the wizarding world. I may not like the bastards, but I wouldn't like it if he came into control either." The vampire grabbed the shocked boy's collar and pulled him towards him.

" Don't you dare tell me that you don't care about them. Just because they screwed up doesn't mean that you can just ignore what is going on! Once Voldie's through with England, you really think he's just going to sit there? He's going to come after the other countries, Potter! So why don't you get it through your thick head that the world doesn't revolve around you, but around all the lives of the people begging you to help them!"

Harry wrenched away for the second time that day and sat back in his chair, "Why should I go back to them and save them if they don't care? You know that as soon as I kill Voldemort that they will turn their backs on me like I didn't even exist. How can I fight for people like that? Why should I risk my life for someone who isn't even grateful. Why should I?"

"One mistake doesn't erase all the good."

"What good? Ever since I discovered their fucking world it's been nothing but hell! Don't tell me that it was all wonderful, that it was a fucking fluffy wonderland! There wasn't a year that they didn't criticize me or degraded me or made me out to be this killer! Even when they knew I disappeared, they still pinned Fudge's death on me. I cannot fight for people who don't appreciate it. I just can't."

Kage's face grew softer as Harry's spilled angry tears. He tried to hide them, but they kept coming.

"Than don't do it for them. Do it for yourself and for your loved ones, they deserve some retribution. You can't go and just forget about them, it won't go away until you face it. If you want, I'll even help you."

"You're Voldemort supporter, why would you help me?"

"You're one of his too, Potter, yet you are still fighting against him."

"I'm not fighting against anyone, I would just love to be left alone."

"The problem is, you're not alone. There are still people who believe in you and do not turn their backs on you just because a stupid paper told them to. Use those few loyal ones and accomplish your goal."

"I'll do it for myself and my friends, the others can go shove themselves in a bin, 'cause that's where they belong."

Kage laughed.

They apperated in front of the Hogwarts double doors. They walked up to Dumbledore's office and knocked on the door. When it opened, Dumbledore's shocked face made Harry almost laugh out, before he remembered what had happened.

"May we come in?" Kage asked. Dumbledore opened the door wider and let them in, conjuring two chairs in the process.

"What can I do for you?" He asked, but his eyes were glued to Harry's.

"You know, Harry, he's never going to know anything if you don't let go of that grudge." Kage said pointedly. Harry sent him a glare.

"I came back to finish my job, after that I'll be leaving."

"What job?" Dumbledore asked.

"The one that goes with the prophecy. I don't care how it's done as long as it's done this year. I'm sick of things going wrong and I'm sick of putting up with all the bullshit." Harry said angrily. Kage cleared his throat.

"Dumbledork, I would like to help you, but I am only going to take orders from Harry here." Harry snorted at the name and Dumbledore's jaw dropped.

Kage continued like he didn't say anything insulting, "I think he deserves to be the leader of the war, after all it is his. He cannot sit in the shadows and do your dirty work while you get all the glory. He is going to have his own group and he will destroy Voldie."

Harry stared at him, "I will?"

Kage laughed at him, "You don't think I came all the way to La Rochelle just to bring Voldie's message did ya? I came to swear my alliance to you. By doing so, I've bound half of the vampires in the world to you. They are at your command and are also willing. They do not like how Voldemort has been treating them and they would like to have some freedom from him. I hope that freedom can come from you."

"Harry is too young to lead an army. I would be glad to lead them until he is ready to take up the responsibility." Dumbledore spoke up only to be quieted by two glares.

"There's no need for your meddling old man, I think you've done enough damage. Why don't you admit that this boy's old enough to do what he pleases. He is worth more than you have ever been worth. You meddle into things that aren't for you to stick your paws in, so don't do it here or I'll rip them off. The vampires will only obey Harry and no one else, not even the great Bumblebee."

"There is no need for name calling. We can settle this peacefully."

"He's right Dumbledore, I was old enough since I was eleven. I've put up with much more than you've ever gone through. As much as I hate being a part of this I think I deserve a spot in this fight."

"Dear boy, I just do not want you to get hurt."

Harry scowled at him, "I've been hurt before, and I've bounced back up. My place in this war is written in that prophecy and even though I hate to do it, I must. Voldemort was like father to me for the time I've stayed with him. But a father wouldn't threaten to kill your friends if you didn't come back. He's gone far enough and I think it is his time to go, for real this time."

"All right, but you must be careful. There are people out for your blood, they think that you have murdered their minister. Be careful." Dumbledore said.

"Is there a place we can use to meet up in this school?" Kage asked.

"I'm afraid not."

"There is." Harry said, getting up out of his chair.

Dumbledore looked up at him searchingly. "The Chamber of Secrets if perfectly fine for meetings."

"The Cham- it really existed?"

"Where've you been?" Harry shot at him.

Kage smirked back, "Around. Look Harry, I'll go back to Voldemort and tell him that you didn't come, but you will be back soon. I also have to tell Drasto what has happened between us, but he might've already felt it. He has been meaning to side with you from the very beginning, but you sort of disliked him."

"Oh, tell him sorry about that."

"It didn't hurt 'im, he bounces right up once he's banged up."

Kage smiled at the two and disappeared in a puff of black smoke.

Dumbledore turned to Harry and smiled, "Well my boy, you keep getting stranger and stranger each day."

Harry scowled at him, "Doesn't mean that I'll trust you ever again. Good night Dumbles." He fire-ported before the man could say anything.

Harry crept through the Gryffindor Common Room and up to the boys' dormitories. He opened the door that led to the seventh year rooms slowly so as not to wake the boys.

His trunk stood at the same place he had left if before disappearing. He waved his hand and the trunk lifted and floated towards him. He opened the door farther and let it float through.

"Harry?" He froze and his trunk thumped to the floor. Panic filled him and his heart began to hammer as the rest of the boys began to wake up. Harry looked to each of the bed and waved his hand, shrinking the trunk.

"Harry, wait." He stopped and slowly turned around, Ron stood behind him in his pajama watching him.

"Morning, Ron." He said softly.

"It really is you? I thought I just imagined it. God, Harry, where have you been?" Ron practically jumped out of the room and pressed the door closed behind him. As soon as they were a safe distance from the room, he turned and hugged his best friend, squeezing the life of him.

"Don't you dare do anything stupid like that again! You have any idea how much crap I had to put up from Ginny and Hermione!"

Harry smiled at him. "Sorry I left, it was sort of sudden and I wasn't thinking straight. I'll have to warn you that I might be leaving again."

"What? If you're going than I'm coming this time. There is no way you are leaving me with those-those brain busters."

Harry laughed, "Brain busters?"

"Yes! That's all they've been doing. Study, study, study! It drove me crazy!"

"Ron sit down." Harry motioned to the sofa in front of the fire place in the common room. The red-head shut his mouth and sat down waiting for his friend to continue.

"Look, I said that I might be leaving but I didn't say where I was going. I just came from Dumbledore's office and I'm thinking of leaving school, not permanently, just until things are back in order. I've decided to fight against Voldemort and not skirt my destiny, I've been running away from it too many times."

"Where will you go?"

"I'm not sure. I know that it won't be far from here. I'm thinking of not leaving the school at all, but just pretend like I left. I was planning of going down to the Chamber. It needs a bit of fix-up, but we can make it work."

"We?" Ron asked. Hope was rising in his eyes, but Harry knew he had to squash the idea.

"Kage, one of the elder vampires, has pledged his alliance to me and in doing so bound half of the other vampires to me. He says they were all willing. We will be meeting in the Chamber and training for the war. I'll be fighting Voldemort from now on."

"Why what happened? Why can't we join too, you know we can help." Ron said.

"Voldemort did something that I didn't think he would actually go through with, and even though I expected it, I did not think he would break our deal. As for you joining, I cannot let you because I don't want to put you in danger. If Voldemort got his hands on you, who knows what he would do."

"Harry, you know we can help you. We didn't train for nothing. You know that we would do anything to stand by your side when the time comes, you don't have to do this alone."

"You don't understand, Ron. The next time Voldemort and I meet will be on a field of battle and we will be alone, I cannot risk your life."

"He's right Harry, you need us, you just don't want to admit it." Harry and Ron turned to find Ginny and Hermione on the stairs. They both ran to him and pulled him into a hug.

Hermione slapped him across the face angrily, "Don't you ever do a stupid thing like that again!"

Harry looked at her and than at Ginny, "Why did that feel like deja vu?" All four laughed.

"I'd give you a slap too, but I think you've got enough on your hands. So when can we join?" Ginny asked.

Harry looked at her, "Join what?"

She looked at him sharply, "The club of course. You do need us, you know."

Harry groaned and put his head into his arms, "How long have you two been listening?"

"Since you mentioned the vampires." Hermione smirked.

Harry turned to glare at Ron, "You knew they were there."

"'Course, but I didn't want to get clobbered by either one of them so I kept my mouth shut. Learned that while they drilled me in anger management."

Harry stared at him before chuckling, than laughing out right.

"So?" Ginny said.

"I can't. Not until I know how many of the vampires will come. Once we know that I'll start recruiting some of the people who haven't deserted me yet."

"The whole Gryffindor house." Ron said.

"No, no students."

"Oh so that excludes us than." Hermione said and Harry turned to her.

"How's that?"

"We're graduating next month." Ron said.

"We are?"

"Yup! I can't wait to get out of here! There's this research job that I want to get at the Ministry. I can't wait!" Hermione practically squealed.

"Bugger off Hermione, I still have a whole year left!" Ginny scowled at her.

"So Harry, I guess we're eligible to join than." Ron smirked.

"Ah no." Three faces fell.

"Why?"

"Because I don't want you in danger. I don't want to think about you every time we're on the battle ground. I don't want to bury any of you thinking that it is my fault."

Ginny and Hermione scowled, Ron hit him over the head. "Crazy idiot! Don't you think we wouldn't be worrying about you while you're fighting Merlin knows what? You think we're just going to sit here and watch as you go and try to get yourself killed? I don't think so. Harry Potter you must be the craziest person on earth!" Ron yelled.

"For once he's right, Harry. We're going to join you no matter what you say. This isn't just your war anymore, it's ours too." Hermione said.

"Yes, and I won't let my brothers go kill themselves, I'm coming too." Ginny said.

Harry stared at her, "Brothers?"

"Of course, you didn't think I was going to desert you just because you told me that we were having more like a sister-brother relationship. Besides I think you're too busy to actually get too intimate with someone."

Harry laughed, "All right, you can join, but I want all of you to train extra hard. I don't want to bury my real family."

"Good! Now that that's settled, you can turn around and say hi to the rest of the house." Ron said smirking. Harry stared at him before turning around.

It seemed that the whole Gryffindor House was standing at the balcony over looking the four. They all stood staring at them.

"Good morning guys." Harry said nervously.

"Harry, you've got a lot of explaining to do." Neville said as he emerged from the crowd to stand where they could see him.

"It looks like it." Harry smiled up at him. Before he knew it the whole common room was buzzing with noises as everyone began to fill in and welcome their house-mate back home.

A/N: Sorry I couldn't get this up earlier. Things have been going on, and I'm more focused on my grades right now than on writing. They've been kind of down in the dungeons so I have to do something about it. Thanks for the reviews everyone. I promise I'll try and get the other chapter up soon. It is Spring Break here sooo...ya know. Ttyl!