The Beginning of the End

"Hey Harry," Ginny said, plopping down on the common room couch next to him. Harry looked up from his transfiguration book and smiled.

"Still talking to me?" he asked slyly.

A week had passed since the minister had visited the school and rumors were still flying around that Harry had something to do with the librarian's death. Even as he walked down the halls between classes, the sea of children would part, for fear of being his next victim. Once again he found himself at the suspicion of being a raving, murdering lunatic only this time Ron and Hermione weren't on his side.

His distance and short temper with them had eroded their bond thorough the last couple months, both of which were fueled by his distrust of them. He couldn't bring himself to tell them the truth about what he did in Hell. At first it was because he felt so betrayed by them for agreeing to report on him, no matter what their intentions were. But then he began to realize that there would be no possible way for him to spin his decision to destroy his humanity that wouldn't make him look like he had gone dark. There were too many boundaries, too many rules in the wizarding world. People used to look the other way when he broke them because it was for some higher cause, to save someone else's life. But this time it was for him to survive; purely selfish reasons.

It didn't matter much to him anyhow; he was busy enough as it was with the noticeable increase of demons keeping him busy. Now that he was on his toes again he could sense them before they even made it into the castle.

"Don't be a prat, of course I am. So are you going to Hogsmeade this weekend?" Ginny asked.

"I'll have to, won't I? Someone has to make sure Inuyasha doesn't royally screw up his chance with Morgana."

Ginny looked at Harry curiously, "Who?"

"Professors Nagasaki and Verchik."

Ginny seemed even more interested than ever.

"They're an item?"

"Not really. Inuyasha has just been pining over her the whole year and finally got her to go out with him. Well, more like tricked..."

Ginny made no comment as to why Harry was on a first name basis with a teacher he didn't even have. She was far more interested in her favorite professor's love life.

"But...why would he be interested in her? Nagasaki's so gorgeous and lively and funny, and Verchik is...well...not."

"I think she's hot," Harry said in her defense. Ginny rolled her eyes.

"I didn't mean she wasn't good looking. She just doesn't seem like she has much of a personality."

Harry nodded and smiled.

"I asked Inuyasha about that once. He said 'That may be but there is no more sexually charged creature on earth than a Vampire'." Harry laughed at Ginny's bewildered expression. "I know. Apparently they were involved once before and he said it was like she was a completely different person in bed and that it was the best violent sex he'd ever had."

"Harry!" Ginny gasped trying to fight off a laugh. A group of first years were staring at them since Harry spoke the last bit a little too loud. "You talk to professor Nagasaki about his sex life?"

"Its one of his favorite subjects," Harry said dryly. "He's an addict."

Ginny laughed and blushed, most likely thinking some naughty things about the young muggles studies teacher.

"Well I have to go and meet Dean in a couple minutes," Ginny said still slightly pink in the face. "I'll let you get back to your homework. Nice talking to you. Keep your chin up, alright?"

Harry waved her off and looked back to his book only to find it shadowed by someone standing overhead. Harry looked up, already knowing who it was.

"Stay away from my sister," Ron said stiffly. Hermione stood behind her boyfriend by a couple of feet, looking displeased.

"She came to me, I was just being polite." Harry said jadedly, not wanting to start a fight. "Can you step to the right a little? You're standing in my light."

Hermione stepped up before Ron could comment.

"Ron and I have been talking Harry and we know you had something to do with Madam Pince's death. You've been acting fishy ever since the summer. Your attitude and morals have gone downhill and I'm beginning to think you're going to start fighting in this war for the wrong reasons. It was different before, because we knew who you were and we knew we were all fighting for the same peace. But now...oh, I'm sorry Harry, but I don't think I can be friends with you. Not like before. Ron and I would like to get through this war alive and on the right side. I'm sorry."

Harry stared unblinkingly at her. Then he looked to Ron, who had calmed down slightly and was standing behind Hermione with a supportive hand on her shoulder. He closed his book and stood up.

"Fine," Harry said, even-tempered, before walking away from the couple. And just like that the rope that held the famous Golden Gryffindor Trio together was cut and a five-year friendship ended.

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"What do you think? Do I look hot enough to score with a vampire?" Inuyasha asked as he turned to face Harry. Inuyasha, as usual, looked devastatingly handsome in a pair of dark, low-cut jeans that hugged his slim hips, a faded grey-blue t-shirt and a jean jacket. It was the last Hogsmeade weekend before Christmas break, meaning nearly everyone in the castle planned on spending their time in the village buying Christmas presents.

"Don't tell me you actually think she'll put out?" Harry asked dubiously as he spun around in a swivel chair. "You're good, but you're not that good."

"She will," Inuyasha said with a confident wink. "And, for the record, I am that good."

Harry sighed. While he both admired and envied Inuyasha's confidence, it sometimes got out of control.

"Wait a minute," Harry gasped. "How will she walk around outside? The sunlight—!"

"She's a daywalker," Inuyasha interrupted. He bent down and reached into his cooler, pulling out a couple bottles of firewhiskey and held one out to Harry.

"I'm a minor," Harry stated pointlessly, accepting the bottle.

They sat for a while and chatted, sipping at their drinks. It was nice for Harry to have someone older and more experienced in just about everything to talk to. Inuyasha had become a mixture of a father, brother, mentor and best friend all in one; filling the gaping hole left in his heart from the neglect of the Dursleys, the death of Sirius, the duplicity of Dumbledore, and the abandonment of his friends. He honestly didn't know what he would do if Inuyasha was ever taken out of his life.

"Ready to go down?" Inuyasha asked, stretching his arms over his head and standing up. The pair walked down to Hogsmeade, meeting Morgana at the entrance to the wizarding village. She looked enticing in a long black skirt paired with a black and red lace corset, enhancing her pale features. She wore a fitted black cloak for warmth and her long black hair cascaded down her back gracefully. Somehow, this woman could rock the color black.

"Well, this is where I leave you," Harry said walking towards the three broomsticks. "You kids behave."

He didn't really know what to do with himself. He could always buy his presents for everyone, but what friends did he have left? Well there was Inuyasha of course, and probably Alaina and Bridget; there would also be Ginny and Shiva and Tai...

Once establishing a rough list in his mind, the buzz of lingering firewhiskey in his veins keeping him warm against the chilling air, Harry proceeded to fill his afternoon with gift shopping. Hours passed before the residents of Hogwarts began to head back to the castle, by which time Harry had successfully found a gift for everyone he could think of. He had started his own path back to the warmth of the castle when a strong hand clasped onto his shoulder, stopping him. His nose told him who it was.

"What's up?" he asked turning to face Inuyasha. He was surprised to see a slightly distressed look on the half-demon's face. Morgana stood a few feet behind him looked disconcerted herself.

"Don't leave just yet," Inuyasha commanded.

Harry threw him a suspicious look.

"Why?"

Inuyasha never got the chance to answer.

A loud explosion of screams and lights erupted from the center of the village. Death eaters seemed to pour out of every store and alleyway, fully robed and wands out, ready to take out as many people as possible. Without a second's warning, green lights blazed everywhere; the people of Hogsmeade were unprepared for the onslaught and many fell dead before they knew what was going on.

Within seconds aurors and members of the Order apparated in all around, leaping into action. Whichever teachers weren't fighting spent their efforts desperately trying to get the children back to the castle. Many of the students complied willingly but there were several who stayed and fought. Most were members of the old DA, taking direction from Ron and Hermione, others were older students stubbornly lending their services, and the rest were junior death eaters who were doing what they could to help their parents.

The biggest surprise of all, however, was the presence of Lord Voldemort. He only stood out amidst the chaos by the shade of his black robes and wide, red eyes, his pale complexion blending perfecting with the snow covered setting. He stood regally beyond the fighting, observing the scene with majestic supremacy, daring anyone to challenge him. It was only a matter of time before Dumbledore engaged in combat with the self-proclaimed lord.

Harry started, fully intent on joining the fight, when Inuyasha grabbed his shoulder once more.

"No," he said.

"But why," Harry yelled angrily, turning to face him again. He jumped, letting out an audible gasp. Inuyasha had reverted into his half-demon form—and he only did that when he was out of site of humans or if he were about to fight. And judging from the way Inuyasha shrugged out of his jacket on this cold, snowy day, with purpose, Harry would have to guess it was the latter.

"Use your damn nose," Inuyasha barked, throwing his jacket at Morgana. He turned to her next. "Go back up with the kids and make sure nothing follows them."

She nodded and left.

"But where are they?" Harry asked, sniffing around for demons. He could smell them faintly and had suspected they were farther away if Inuyasha could sense them so well. Inuyasha's smell and hearing far surpassed his own, after all.

"Can't you feel it?" Inuyasha asked. Harry gave him an odd look. All he felt was cold. And who wouldn't? He was covered in snow. Even his insides were cold.

Harry gasped. He recognized the familiar chill that shook the core of his bones, and it steadily grew as the seconds passed. He knew what this was, he knew why Voldemort looked so smug, standing there on raised ground, not seeming remotely concerned that Dumbledore was quickly making his way towards him. The ground began to shake, throwing many of the duelers off their feet, and a long fissure formed down the street of the once peaceful village.

The beginnings of a forced opening to hell.

"Get ready," Inuyasha grinned. Hordes upon hordes of demons began mounting through the break, immediately attacking any human they came across, including death eaters. A long, serpentine demon had burst through the ground between them. Before Harry could so much as make a move, Inuyasha deftly bonked the demon on the head, shattering the skull with unmatchable strength, killing it.

"Page five hundred forty seven; now go get the book!" Inuyasha ordered.

"But-" Harry started, wanting to fight.

"Go!"

Pausing only to deliver an annoyed growl at Inuyasha, Harry dropped his human appearance, knowing no one would notice in all the commotion, and sprinted towards the castle at an unimaginable speed. He reached it before any of the escaping students even made it onto the grounds and wasted no time and jumping through the closed window to his empty dorm room—the shards of glass barely scratched his skin, most bouncing harmlessly off the resilient layer.

It took all but two seconds to whip out the book from his trunk and flip to page five hundred forty seven.

"Soul trapping," Harry muttered reading the title of the page. His eyes widened considerably as he read through the instructions, "Oh hell..."

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Thanks for the reviews though, they make me smile. This story is almost over, and then we can get onto the sequel and finally get Kagome in there. Yay!

...cheer with me damnit.

Anyhoo- just to reassure certain people: This is not H/G. I thought it was cute in cannon, but it annoys me in fanfiction. The only person who can pull it off in my opinion is Rowling. Besides, I already have who Harry's gonna end up w/ in the sequel and I will make it ridiculously obvious too. Actually, I think I already have .