Chapter 13: Planning for Battle
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"Julia, where are you going?" Lauren grabbed the time travel book from under Isabelle's pillow and left the room and went downstairs. Evan and Isabelle stopped her, and Lauren said,
"If we're in danger right now of being killed, we're going home. I don't want to stay here if we're at risk." Isabelle tugged the book out of her best friend's hands. She said,
"Julia, we're staying here until the battle is over. We can't leave now."
"Why not? Why are we obligated to stay?"
"Because Blake and I are secret keepers for our older selves."
"So what! The way you two act, you'd think that this is our time period and we've just gone on a trip to another part of the world. You forget, we have control over the future; we can decide what happens to these people. Honestly, I don't know why you two didn't realize this before." Evan and Isabelle looked at each other, realizing Lauren was right. Lauren made a face and said,
"I want to go home. I don't want to live in a future where Blake and I are on the verge of divorce, you and Will are on non-speaking terms, my oldest son doesn't like his family, and there are insane Death Eaters trying to cling to the past and try to kill the Potters. I don't like it, I want to go back." Isabelle and Evan nodded. Isabelle said quietly,
"I'll prepare the potion."
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"We need a place to prepare the potion without someone noticing it. Do you know of any place?" Lily bit her bottom lip in thought, and without realizing she was doing it, Isabelle bit her bottom lip in thought too.
"Maybe the basement?"
"Does anybody go down there?"
"No. It's a pointless room; it's not used for anything. It's not the cleanest of places, but with a simple cleaning charm, it should be ok." Lily got up and started to leave the room, Isabelle following her. They went into the hallway to a door just off the front door that Isabelle hadn't noticed until now. Lily opened it, and lit her wand. Isabelle did the same, and they went down the stairs, the air getting colder as they descended. When they reached the bottom of the stairs, Isabelle looked around at the dark basement, with only the light from the wands. She nodded and smiled.
"It'll do."
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"So what have you learned?" Draco took a deep breath and said,
"It's basically like Blake said, they're recruiting students to be Death Eaters, some even from this school. Slytherins, of course, but mostly ones who parents are or were Death Eaters." It was odd to hear him talk like that, because he was the son of a Death Eater, and for a while it seemed like he idolized his father, and couldn't wait to receive the Dark Mark, but then in the Final Battle, ended up killing his father and saving Harry. Snape said,
"We never got an exact time when they would attack, but it'll be soon."
"Mundungus, what have you been hearing down in Knockturn Ally and on the Wizard Black Market?"
"Most 're totally 'blivious to what's going on, or a' least pretendin' they 're. Ya can't get nothing outta 'em." All the Order members looked thoughtful. Ginny said,
"Well, what are we going to do?" Dumbledore looked at Draco and Snape and said,
"How many are there?" Draco said,
"At least fifty. They get more every day." Hermione said,
"So, basically, in answer to your question, Ginny, we don't know."
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It was silent among everyone in Lily's kitchen. Everybody looked at each other, waiting for someone to say something. Suddenly, Harry slammed his fist on the table, making the family jump. Everyone looked at him to see what the fist thing was all about and Harry said angrily,
"I'm sick and tired of this bullshit. I'm sick and tired of having to live my life constantly looking over my shoulder for somebody who's gonna try and kill me. It needs to end."
"Harry, calm down."
"Hermione, these people are the reason why the people we've loved in our life are dead! They're the reason why your parents are dead, why mine are dead, why Sirius is dead…" Hermione, temper rising, interrupted her husband and said,
"No, Voldemort is the reason they're all dead. The Death Eaters were there to make Voldemort feel better because he had back up, and for someone to worship him and make himself feel important."
"Even so, this needs to end, we all need to do something about it. If they want a fight, we'll give them a fight."
"Who, just us five adults? To take on fifty plus Death Eaters? You're not thinking clearly, Harry."
"No, we'll take the Order members. There's plenty of them, we can't lose. We can go tomorrow…" Again, Hermione interrupted Harry, this time losing her temper.
"DAMNIT HARRY! Will you listen to yourself! You're not thinking clearly and you're not taking into consideration what you're asking of people! These are people who haven't fought against the Dark side in twenty-nine years! Some of them weren't even alive or able to fight in the Final Battle! You can't just send a bunch of people to a place unprepared and expect them to win!" Surprised by Hermione's outburst, everyone looked at Hermione wide-eyed in shock. Calming down, Hermione said,
"Think this through rationally, then decide what to do. Otherwise a lot of lives are going to be lost that could've been spared." Harry slowly nodded and said,
"You're right, Hermione. You usually are." Ten minutes later, Blake and Lily were heading down to the basement to help with the potion. Lily said,
"That was an interesting conversation."
"Yeah. Everyone always said that Mum's the only one who can calm Dad, and make him see reason. They're all right." They lit their wands and came down the stairs, where Isabelle, Evan and Lauren were working on the potion to get them back to the past.
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"Actually, Harry, it's really the most logical explanation. Only we wouldn't send everybody there, just the ones who are prepared for battle." Harry nodded. He said to Dumbledore,
"How soon would we have enough for a battle?"
"It depends."
"On what?"
"Are you ready to go back and fight?"
"Yes. I want this to end."
"A lot of lives can be lost in this, Harry, you have a lot more people to lose this time than last time. You won't be able to keep them from going along and standing by your side. If I know your son and daughter, they won't stay behind." Harry said quietly,
"I know. But like I've said before, they're thirty-six, I can't tell them what to do and what not to do." Dumbledore nodded.
"Well, I have some people I need to send owls to, so I'll let you go." Harry nodded and stood to leave. He went home, where he found his wife, son and daughter, and those three students that were always around when they all needed to talk in the kitchen. Dobby the house elf was moving around, bouncing on his heels when he wasn't moving, gathering things to make everyone happy, asking them if they needed anything. Hermione sighed.
"Dobby, we're fine, we don't need anything. If we do, we'll get it ourselves."
"But Miz Hermy, you's paying Dobby, and Dobby not deserve paying if Dobby not serve you."
"It's fine, Dobby, we're happy to pay you, even if you don't do that much." Dobby slowly nodded and disappeared with a 'crack'. The occupants of the kitchen didn't notice Harry in the doorway, leaning against the frame, thinking. He looked at his family, and couldn't help thinking that soon all of them might not be there anymore. He went to the living room and sat down in his favorite chair. He closed his eyes and leaned his head against the back of the chair. Memories went through his head; he couldn't stop them even if he wanted to.
"I want to ask you something, Harry." Harry nodded, having other stuff on his mind, and he really wanted to ask her if it would wait, but the look on her face told him that it couldn't.
"I want your opinion about something, here come with me." He got up and followed her up the stairs to one of the spare rooms of the house that they had shared since their wedding a few months ago. Hermione opened the door and flicked the light switch on, flooding the room with light. There were boxes and everything in the room, and barely enough room to move around. But Hermione walked in, leaving her husband standing in the doorway. Hermione pointed at one corner and said,
"I was thinking, what if we put the one crib over here, and the second one over here," She pointed at the other corner, "And maybe a rocking chair here by the window, a little dresser between the cribs for all the clothes and such, and…well, what do you think?" Harry was only half listening; he nodded until what Hermione was talking about finally registered in his head. His eyes widened in surprise. He looked at Hermione, who was smiling, waiting for him to say something. He grinned and he hugged Hermione and picked her up and spun her around. He set her down and said,
"Two of them?"
"Yes, two of them."
"Oh my God. I'm gonna be a dad."
"Yeah. Isn't it great?"
"I'm gonna be a bad father."
"Why do you think that?"
"I never knew mine, I have no idea how to be a father."
"But you know people who are fathers. And I think that parenting isn't really something you can learn. I think you just know. I think you can read about it all you want, but I think it just comes natural. And you're the kind of person who I always thought would be a good dad."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Why do you think I married you?"
"Really? That's why?"
"Well, not the only reason. I love you, and that's why I married you." Harry smiled and kissed his wife. He said,
"So, have you been thinking of names yet?"
"Yep."
"Already?"
"Yeah. Of course."
"Well, it'll be hard to pick out names because we don't know if it's two boys, two girls, or one of each."
"True. But oh well, we have nine months to think about it."
Harry smiled as he thought back to that day, he remembered thinking that he would remember that day forever, that it couldn't get any better than this. But that was until his son and daughter were born.
"Mr. Potter?" Harry looked up, to see a nurse standing in front of him. She smiled and said,
"You're to come with me."
"What is it?"
"You'll see." Harry stood, and followed the nurse. Ron and a seven-month pregnant Lavender hadn't come back from their walk around the hospital yet. The nurse took him down to a recovery room where his wife was. Hermione's face lit up into a smile when she saw Harry and he went to give her a kiss. Hermione said,
"Oh, Harry, you have to see them, they're beautiful."
"Well, two boys, two girls, or one of each?"
"One of each."
"I'm glad, that's what I was hoping for." The nurse brought over their son and daughter and placed them both in Harry's arms. Hermione moved over in her bed to make a space for Harry to sit down, and he took a seat next to her. He smiled as happy tears began to form in his eyes. The twins both had black hair and the girl was the only one with her eyes open and she had bright green eyes like Harry's. Hermione said,
"Your son looks like you."
"I didn't know it was possible to love someone you just met this much."
"I know. I thought that when I first saw them. So, what are we going to name them?"
"I don't know, what do you think?"
"I think, that we should name them after our parents. Maybe like, Lily Anne for her and Blake James for him. Anne and Blake after my parents, Lily and James after yours."
"I like it. So, Blake James Potter and Lily Anne Potter. Sounds good. I just wish that our parents got to meet their grandchildren."
"I know, so do I." The door to the room opened and the new godparents came in. Lavender said,
"Aww, they're beautiful. Oh, you have one of each!"
"Yeah. This is Lily Anne, and Blake James."
"Oh, that's cool, named after both parents then."
Harry opened his eyes and glanced up at the doorway and saw his wife leave the kitchen, probably looking for him. Harry closed his eyes again and leaned his head back against the chair.
"I'm going with you."
"No, you're not."
"Yes, I am."
"Hermione,"
"Harry, do you really expect me to stay behind while my husband goes off to the most important battle of his life?"
"Yes." Hermione snorted and it turned into a laugh.
"I thought you said you knew me."
"Hermione, I don't want you there with me."
"Why not? Am I incompetent to fight or something?"
"No, you know that's not it, Hermione."
"Or is it that you don't want to be seen with me or something, or that I'll just get in the way…"
"No, Hermione, that's not it."
"Then what is it? I don't understand, Harry, why don't you want me by your side?"
"Because…if something were to happen to you, I don't know what I'd do. I wouldn't be able to go on. Remember when Lavender made the comment the other day about me not being human because I don't have a weakness? Well, I guess I am human, because I do have a weakness, and it's you. If something were to happen to you, Hermione, if you were to die, and it was my fault, I wouldn't be able to go on." Hermione looked at him with tears in her eyes, and she wrapped her arms around her husband's neck, and he hugged her back.
"You know I love you too, right?"
"Right."
"Well, I wouldn't be able to stay behind because I love you. I vowed nine years ago that I would always love you, will always stand by your side in whatever troubles come your way. You have to understand that whether you like it or not, I'm going to go with you to fight."
"But you don't need to be the one to fight."
"Aside from the prophecy, why do you need to fight him?"
"I need to rid the world of the evil he's caused. I need revenge for all the people who's lives have been lost, and all those people who's lives were affected by their deaths."
"Because he killed your mother and father and Sirius, right?"
"Right."
"Well, that's why I need to go too."
"What?"
"Voldemort killed my Mum and Dad. He killed my mother-in-law and father-in-law, he almost killed my husband seven times. That's why I need to go with you. Please, Harry, I can't stand by and watch you go off to battle when I could be going along with."
"I can't lose you though, Hermione."
"You won't."
"You don't know that. He knows you're my wife, and he'll use you to get to me."
"Even if something does happen to me, Harry, I'll still be with you, just like your parents and Sirius are still with you." Harry smiled halfheartedly.
"You're stubborn, you know that?"
"I know. So are you, see we're perfect for each other." Harry nodded and smiled. Hermione wrapped her arms around her husband's neck again and laid her head on his shoulder.
"You know what I wish, Harry?"
"What?"
"If I could hear anything in the world, you know what it'd be?"
"What?"
"I'd hear you laugh again."
"I laugh."
"Not like you used to, and I'm afraid you never will again. That there's just so much that's happened since I last heard you truly laugh." Harry smiled.
"I'll try."
"Harry?" Harry opened his eyes and saw his wife standing in the doorway. He smiled and said,
"Hey."
"What's the matter?"
"Nothing." Hermione gave him a look that told him she knew he was lying to her. He sighed and said,
"I'm too old for this." Hermione laughed.
"For what?"
"To take on the Death Eaters. I know I'm not all that old, I'm only fifty-five, but I feel like I'm two hundred. I don' t think I have what it takes anymore." Hermione smiled.
"Harry Potter? Not have what it takes? Yeah right."
"I'm serious, here."
"So am I." She sat down on his lap and looked him in the eye. "Harry, I've known you since I was eleven, and I know that you'll always have what it takes. Even when you're as old as Dumbledore." Harry smiled halfheartedly.
"If I make it that far."
"You will. I'm sure of it."
A/n: Ok, don't ask me where I was going with this chapter; I'm not a hundred percent sure. I started out trying to get that feeling of the few weeks or days before a battle, the emotions and everything, but I don't know if I did a good job. Well, let me know what you think, I always love to hear that. Please review!
Husker-fan-2006