1Chapter 11

Recognition

"Ron, wherever Harry is, I've got a feeling he's going to be a while, so let's just get our stuff together, we leave tonight!" said Hermione giddily, highly anticipating the trip ahead.

Ron sighed, exasperated by her constant talking of the trip. Hermione, noting his annoyance, turned on him irritated.

"You don't realize how big of a deal this is, do you?" asked Hermione with a sharp look in her eyes. "Hogwarts has not allowed their students to visit other schools for thousands of years! Not that we be allowed in anyway, that is if we found the schools in the first place."

Ron grinned and dropped a knapsack on the ground. Hermione immediately plowed through it, finding a few spare (and dirty) clothes as well as a couple of other trinkets. He grinned and without out her even saying anything, began to re-pack.

Ron and Hermione were both packing their things in the Gryffindor Boys dormitory. Everyone else was at the feast, eating away his or her fears of another attack. Yet the chances of one seemed slim to none. The Ministry had ordered a pair of aurors to guard the doors and entrances of Hogwarts. No one could get in without authorization.

Suddenly, the doors of dormitory flew open, as Percy's smile shone darkly into the room.

"Hello Ron, oh I missed you so much!" said Percy falsely as he approached Ron, as if to hug him. He did not even acknowledge Hermione's presence, but rather chose to ignore it, as if it were a nuisance.

Ron drew his wand promptly and pointed it at Percy saying, "If you take another step closer to me, I throw you across the room!" said Ron fiercely. "You sold out my best friend, made his life a living hell, and you look for me to even notice you! You tried to steal Fred and George's recipe; your own brothers! Fudge has twisted your mind and sucked the little bit of life that was left in you're soul and sold it to the devil! You're lucky that I don't go to Dumbledore and tell him what you did, but then again, I would be acting like you wouldn't I? Being a prefect had nothing to do with you're "positive influence," you were only and bad one. You taught me how easily people can be betrayed!"

Percy's mouth was agape, yet he seemed at a loss for words. Hermione drew he wand sharply and chipped in.

"You're father pulled his weight for so many years so that he could support you and you're family!" added Hermione fiercely. "Yet you call him an embarrassment at the Ministry, and say he's given you a bad reputation! You are Disgusting!"

Harry slowly walked in, his wand also drawn, looking at Percy right in the eyes. For a moment, it looked as if Harry was going to attack him. Yet he simply put his wand back in his pocket and pointed out the door. Like an obedient dog, Percy quickly promptly scampered out of the room, like a dog tail between his legs. Yet before he could leave, Harry blocked the way. Although he was not quite as tall as Percy, he was evidently much stronger.

"Percy, I will never forgive you for what you have done," said Harry calmly. "You betrayed me, my friends, you're family; everything I stand for. I never knew you, you never existed in my life. If for whatever reason, I see you doing anything suspicious for the Ministry while you're on the trip, I will bring you down."

Percy gazed at him with cold eyes, a gaze only rivaled by Draco Malfoy. Yet he said nothing and quickly walked away, now with a little better posture.

"Did you say he was coming with us on the trip?" asked Ron disbelievingly, while putting his wand away.

Harry nodded grimly answering, "Dumbledore told when he called me up."

Ron and Hermione both nodded, not asking any further questions concerning Harry's meeting with Dumbledore. Right after Harry had left the Hospital Wing, an owl concerning Harry flew up to him and asked him to meet with Dumbledore with all possible haste. Wordlessly, Harry departed to Dumbledore's room, yet their conversation wasn't heard by anyone, and it didn't look like Harry wanted to talk.

Harry looked seriously out of the window as the rain splattered down against it. Everyone else was at the ceremony for the grievously injured and dead from the Battle of Hogwarts Gates. Four were seriously crippled, and had to leave Hogwarts permanently. Three others died, and two were missing. The names of those students were going to be announced, but Dumbledore had already told Harry who they were. Joshua Plick, Jormine Halbot and Calvin Smithers all perished from the battles. Colin and Dennis Creevy were both missing, and the crippled student were first years whose names Harry couldn't remember. He wanted to go down to the ceremony, but he couldn't. So many times, so many people had their lives changed by Voldemort. The memories of Harry's parents all came back to him. Although Harry knew it was ridiculous, he didn't want to kill Voldemort. No, Voldemort had caused so much pain; it would be impossible to just kill him. Harry would want him to understand how much pain he had caused people. Just how many people couldn't sleep at night, couldn't go on with life, and felt totally hopeless because of him.

"Harry?" peeped Hermione as she walked into the dormitory. "Are you alright? I didn't see you down at the ceremony."

Harry shifted his weight slightly, but didn't respond. After a couple of moments he leaned back on his chair, only two legs on the ground. He rocked back and forth for a while, until he lost his balance. The chair quickly fell backwards and Harry hit the floor, staring at the ceiling with cloudy eyes. Then suddenly, a smile erupted onto his face, his eyes still cloudy and staring at the ceiling. Hermione watching this peculiar behavior, came closer. She could see that Harry wasn't anywhere Earth right now. He was far away, in his minds world. She noticed the pupils in Harry's eyes danced from side to side, with an emerald green color surrounding it. Slowly, she left the room, knowing her best friend could at least find peace in his mind.

"Did you know I have to fight Voldemort?" asked Harry, seemingly to the walls. Yet Hermione knew the question was directed to her.

"What do you mean?" asked Hermione inquisitively. She reluctantly walked back into the room, staring at Harry who was still laying on the floor smiling.

"The prophecy from the Ministry," replied Harry. He seemed to be laughing. "It says that I have to fight Voldemort, and that one of us will die. Wait, more good news, I've just realized I can't perform murder. That I can't kill anyone. I said I would kill Sirius when I thought he was a Death Eater, but I wouldn't have been able to. I realize that. You know what's even better? I've been chosen to play an international tournament for Hogwarts, and I haven't flown for a very long time. A very, very long time."

"Well pack you're bags for tomorrow Harry, because tomorrow is coming no matter how much you don't want it to," said Hermione calmly.

Harry looked at her surprised. Now standing up. "I thought you'd take this a little harder, that's why I didn't tell you right when I found out."

"No matter how much I wish the prophecy isn't true, it is," responded Hermione. "And when you face him, you'll be ready. Because Harry, you will never die. I realized that. You have faced some of the most dangerous places and people and you're still standing here in front of me with a scar on you're forehead, but nothing else. You are destined to destroy Voldemort, that's obvious to me now. So I could cry about it, or I could accept it. I don't know if you're nine lives are almost up Harry, but as long as they aren't, everyone has the will to fight.

Harry looked at her, thinking about what she said. Slowly he turned back towards the window, with rain still pattering now lightly against it saying:

"To another day Hermione, to another day."