There were two weeks left of school, Harry realized later that night as Ron and Hermione's owls of permission arrived. In the following week, he also realized that it was a sudden change of power that made him create the Killing Curse. Malfoy had been chucking fish eyes at him in Potions, and he desperately tried to restrain himself from shoving them right back down Malfoy's throat. In the next few moments, Harry's eyes widened as Malfoy's mouth opened and he force-fed himself the fish eyes. It was obvious he was very confused, as his eyes were large and looking around confusedly at everyone else. Then there was that Wednesday when he dreamed McGonagall's hair caught on fire because she took points from Gryffindor for staring at Katie….
Harry still didn't know why it had happened, however. It captivated his thoughts at night before they were taken over by Voldemort's angry yelling at night as he slept. The only big emotion he'd had before then was his happiness that Ron and Hermione could come with him to the secret base Katie frequently talked of. If it was his genetics, why had Amanda had hers so much earlier than he? Was it different with boys and girls? Now that he thought about it, he didn't know any boys who'd had this happen to them before. Maybe he was the only one?
In the last week, Harry roamed about the castle, trying to memorize it's every detail once more. He ran into a room with coffins he hadn't seen before, and left before he read the names on them. Not daring to think of why they were there, he left immediately. Harry watched Peeves at work once, when he found him attempting to trick the suits of armor into dueling with each other. He was actually rather crafty, Harry realized as he watched. Being a message deliverer from one knight to another, he would change the message by a single word, which would change the entire message. He actually got one duel going, but McGonagall walked by and stopped it.
Harry's favorite part of the last week were the nights in Gryffindor Common Room. They had taken tests the week before, and had no school for the remaining semester. He, Ron, Hermione, and Katie would sit in the best seats by the fire, usually on two separate couches, and watch the fire die, occasionally listening in to conversation going on about them. They would sit there until they got tired, until the fire died, or until Dobby came in and told them they needed their rest. They would get up, say their goodnights, and head off to bed.
It was this part of the night Harry dreaded most, after their goodnights. Not only was he slightly paranoid that one of them might not be there when he woke up in the morning, but while the others somehow managed to wake up with the other students fully rested, he woke up with the others in horror, not rested at all. His dreams of Voldemort continued, despite the Occlumency he took. He didn't understand: why, if he was suddenly so much magically stronger, did they continue?
Harry woke up in fright, cold sweat flying down his face. Voldemort hadn't been angry on the last night of Harry's stay at Hogwarts, he'd been hopeful. He actually might have a new ally at Hogwarts, who could watch Harry every day. Harry shook it off, wiped his face on his comforter, and got out of bed, trying to look normal as he'd tried to do every day for the past week. Ron always saw through him and helped him look as he usually did so Hermione and Katie wouldn't worry, but the other boys in their dorm seemed completely unaware of Harry's screams at night. Ron later revealed that he put a silencing charm around Harry's bed.
"You ready, Harry?" Ron asked as the sixth year Gryffindor boys changed out of their pajamas.
"Ready as ever, I guess," Harry said, closing his eyes for a moment. That was all he needed, Harry thought, his mind still on the dream. Another person like Barty Crouch, Jr. to watch his every move.
Ron paused, then whispered, "What was it about?"
Harry didn't answer him as he put his pajamas away.
"Harry, please tell me," Ron said, watching Harry closely.
Harry hesitated. He didn't want to see Ron's face.
"Please," Ron repeated.
Harry sighed as Neville, Seamus, and Dean left the room. "Voldemort thinks he might have another ally to watch me, here at Hogwarts."
Ron didn't speak as he closed his trunk.
"Yeah, I know," Harry said, feeling Ron's fear.
"Do… do we tell Hermione and Katie?" Ron whispered.
Harry shrugged. "I dunno."
"You guys ready?" Neville asked from the door. "Hermione and Kelly are out there waiting for you. Told me to ask if you were."
"Did they ask nicely or impatiently?" Harry asked.
"Nicely," Neville said.
"Then tell them we'll be down in a minute. They can time us," Harry said, smiling.
Neville smiled back as he left. "Will do."
"We kinda need to decide if we want to tell them, Harry," Ron said.
"I know," Harry admitted. "I just don't know if I want to. It would effect how they see me next year so much. Maybe… no. I don't think we should until we know, and if he doesn't get his insider, there's no point to telling them at all."
Ron slowly nodded. "It's your choice." He picked up his trunk and headed for the door.
"You think I should tell them," Harry said, reading Ron's expression.
"I think you should at least let them know there's a danger," Ron said, stopping at the door.
"Do you realize how much that would change things, though? What if we couldn't go to the secret base?" Harry pointed out.
Ron shrugged. "It would be for the best intentions, Harry. Better no base than you dead, I say."
Harry didn't say anything, but picked up his trunk and Hedwig's cage and joined Ron's side at the door.
"And Harry, if I'd have wanted otherwise, I'd have joined Voldemort in the lake." Ron smiled.
Harry smiled back. "I know."
They opened the door and walked down to the common room, where Hermione and Katie were whispering simultaneously to themselves.
"HA! 1... 2... 3..."
"Hello…" Ron said awkwardly.
"HA! You're three seconds late," Katie said, smiling.
Harry rolled his eyes.
"C'mon, if we want to get a compartment to ourselves on the train," Hermione said.
The four picked up their trunks and dragged them down the Grand Staircase, passing by fellow students. They passed Nick and spent some time giving goodbyes. Nick proudly announced that he knew what Katie hadn't told Harry, though he was silenced before he could finish his sentence. Harry wasn't sure if it was his will, Katie's, or both that made Nick unable to speak.
"Nick, please don't," Katie whispered as the eavesdropping second years finally left. "No one needs to know."
Nick shrugged and said goodbye, followed by goodbyes from the rest of them.
Filch was checking them off as they left the castle, an actual smile on his face. "McDonald gone… Hackles gone… Jaminson gone… Damen gone… Another Weasley gone… Granger gone… And Potter, too…. The only thing I love about this job… the end…."
Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Katie exchanged glances and tried not to laugh as they quickly left, going toward the exit of the grounds of Hogwarts. Harry looked back when they were far enough away to see the whole castle. It was shining as magnificently as ever, a couple owls flying around it. The sun seemed to shine specifically on the Great Hall, where the magically created sky for a roof glimmered brilliantly, like sun on water. In a window from Gryffindor Tower, a brilliant red curtain swung gently with the breeze. He was leaving his home again. It suddenly occurred to Harry how odd it was, that the next time he left it, he wouldn't return. Harry turned forward again.
"You okay, Harry?" Katie asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Harry said, smiling at her.
Katie smiled back as they reached the crowd at the edge of the grounds.
Claws gently landed on Harry's shoulder.
"Oh, there you are," Harry said, petting Hedwig. "I was wondering where you went." A rat in her mouth told him she'd been out hunting late.
Harry opened the cage, and Hedwig flew inside it. Harry locked it just as the carriages pulled up, the thestrals watching the anxious students climb aboard them. Harry grabbed the first one he could, and motioned for Ron, Hermione, and Katie to join him. Neville caught sight of them and asked if he and Ginny could join them, and Harry nodded.
The thestral started off, the carriage bumping slightly as conversation began. Ginny wasn't sure what Katie had been lying about, that was for sure. But, Harry realized, she was coming close to the truth. She thought that Katie was like Snape, in that she had worked for Voldemort, then turned to Dumbledore, and done this change while she had been dating Harry. Neville seemed to agree that this was the best theory he'd heard.
Katie laughed when Ginny was done. "You have quite the imagination, Ginny. I'm sorry, but you're wrong this time." At Ginny's maddening sigh, she added, "But you'll know when you get to Grimmauld Place. Your mum'll be ranting about it like mad."
Ginny smiled and a pleasant conversation replaced the previous one.