Thirty Five: The New Pollution
Kit and Ron sat together in the infirmary, Kit still leaning on his shoulder from exhaustion. He smiled down at her, holding onto the feeling he had missed for so long. Her breath slowed as she looked back, her face holding a look of hope. Harry had gone off to retrieve Nina and bring her back to Madame Pomfrey. They were waiting for him to return.
"I hope you didn't worry too much," Kit said softly, looking back down, "I heard you and Harry yelling. I just didn't really know what was going on. I could barely breathe and I just wanted to find y. . ."
"Don't worry about it," He cut her off, "I was worried, but I knew you were going to be fine. Harry and I have been in a lot of jams before, and we've never gotten stuck. I'm just relieved to see your face again."
She smiled, still looking down, "Me, too . . ."
He lifted her face, "I wouldn't give up worrying about you for the world, Kit. I truly wouldn't."
She smiled piningly, her eyes watering, "Ron, I wish I could just . . . I just want to get this over with. I truly do. I want you to love me like you used to, when I was with you. I want to feel like that once more. To feel with you and no one else. But . . . I'm so confused. Feelings are just bubbling out of me, and I don't know if I need you, George, Draco . . . anyone. I just need to get it over with. So badly, I do."
He shushed her, putting his finger on her lips, "You don't have to tell me. I know. I need it to be over with too. We all do. As badly as I hate admit it, I can see why you might be so confused. I would be too. I just hope that whatever decision you make is the one that you, you yourself, are happy with. Don't try to please anyone else right now."
Kit smiled, leaning closer to him, "You're so calm about this, I expected you to be angry at me. I thought you'd never forgive me for being so mean to you."
"I thought so too . . . But I realized you mean more to me than that. I really do love you, and I'd do anything for you. I'd even give you up, and I'd still be happy, knowing that you were finally unburdened, and would live happily . . . Even if it wasn't with me."
With that, Kit kissed him. She didn't know why she was doing it, she just felt so overwhelmed, and so confused. Her mouth found his and he kissed back. They sat there, arms around each other, just loving the feeling of the kiss. Finally, a sound caused them to settle back, pulling away from each other in distress. Kit covered her face with her hands and tried not to cry.
Harry looked from one to the other, trying to figure out what had happened. Kit was covering her face, and Ron was biting his lip. His cheeks were red, as were his ears, and Harry had some suspicion, but he just pulled Nina inside and ignored it. He noticed Ron sigh with relief as he turned away.
"She's still kind of disoriented," Harry said as Madam Pomfrey came out, coming to examine her. Nina shook her head, falling over as Harry let go of her arm.
Madam Pomfrey stopped her, magically freezing her before she hit the ground. "As Dumbledore is a bit busy at the moment, I'll have to have you tell me exactly what happened, from the beginning."
Kit glanced at Harry, urging him to let her tell it. She stood, crossing to Madam Pomfrey, "I'll tell you, I was with her all day."
She led Kit into her office, along with Nina. Harry sat over by Ron, who was watching Kit as she closed the door.
"What happened?" Harry asked, "I'm not stupid, you know. You're still blushing . . ."
Ron sighed, looking away as he replied, barely loud enough for Harry to hear, "She kissed me . . . She just kissed me."
He looked to Harry, who shook his head and replied, "So she made her decision?"
Ron shook his head, "No . . . She just kissed me. Just like that. I told her how I felt, and she just kissed me. It felt right then, but now I feel empty and even more confused than before. She's so calm about it all, and I think I might've made it worse."
"I see," Harry said, looking away, "You really love her, don't you?"
"Always have, Harry. You of all people should know that."
Harry sighed again, "I met Hermione and Draco on my way back with Nina. That's why I took so long."
"Oh?"
"Yeah, They were looking for you, Draco wanted to find Kit. He was worried. Hermione said she'd be here later, and when I told him, he just glared at me and ran off. Hermione went after him I think, but I have no idea where they are now."
Ron's eyes widened. "He was looking for me?"
"Yeah, he said you'd know where she was. He seemed really scared."
Ron seemed to be mulling this all over in his head. Harry looked him over. His hair was messed up in the back, as if someone had been mussing it up. That was probably Kit. His red shirt was covered in dust and dirt, and his right pant leg was torn on the knee. He looked like he hadn't slept for days. Suddenly, Ron stood.
"What are you doing?"
Ron shook his head, "Just tell Kit to meet me by Slytherin."
And with that, he had left.
"Please! Just wait one moment. You keep yelling at me for not knowing where they are, and yet you haven't even let me speak!" Hermione called after him, running down the hall after.
Draco halted, turning to Hermione, "I need to get Kit and take her away from all of this . . . She'll not be harmed, not if I can do anything about it."
"Where will you go then, huh, Malfoy?" She asked, her eyes watering, "It's all going to be gone soon enough. The school is no where near ready for this, and neither are we. We're stuck here. We'll always be stuck here . . . not even your money and 'power' can save you now."
He looked at her, her face covered in grime and tears. She turned away, her hair loosely tied up and falling about her neck. "You don't understand . . . Hermione. You're just scared of all of this. And you should be . . . I guess, but I can get away, and that's all I care about now. She's not getting hurt, and neither are you."
"She won't go, you know." Hermione shook her head, "As much as she cares for you, she won't leave Ron. She wouldn't do it."
Draco walked towards her, putting a shaking hand on her shoulder, "I know . . . I just have to know that I tried."
Hermione put her hand over his, "I know how you feel, but if I couldn't get Ron from her, you won't be able to keep her from him."
"What do you mean, Granger?"
She looked him in the eyes, her face still shimmering from her tears, "I loved him, Draco. I still do, but she's got him and I could never take him back. He loves her, and she loves him. She always will, even if she chooses you. How is that going to make you feel, huh? To know that even though you two will always be together, may even get married, she'll always be dreaming of what could have been . . . what she gave up for you."
He smiled at her, "That may be, but I'll always have my own yearnings, Hermione. Everyone does. Even though you may have given someone up, you'll always have a space for them. no matter how you think you feel. Just as she'll always love him, I'll always have a place in my heart for my former girlfriends. Pansy is in here, so is a piece of Nina . . . I just have to believe in her. That's all I can do."
He looked over Hermione, her face showing a mixture of shock and understanding, "I just think that I could've been so happy. If only I would have done the right thing and told him how I feel. I was going to tell him . . . when they met me in Diagon Alley, but she was there and I was confused enough already because I couldn't find my mum. I told Harry about it, and he said he already knew. It wasn't that big of a secret, I suppose. And I thought he liked me back, but it was all in vain."
"It's never fair, but it wasn't all in vain. You have moved on, and it taught you a valuable lesson. Love isn't just a one shot thing. It's forever been a feeling, brought upon by a series of conversations. . . caressings. . . thoughts and ideas. No one knows how to get rid of it, deal with it, or even understand it. . . and yet we always want it. We're human, and we're built for this kind of stuff. We just weren't given all of the secrets. . . "
"Draco," Hermione stepped close to him, holding his hand now and staring deep into his eyes, " I never realized how in tune with everything you are. I thought that your obsession with Kit was just you wanting something you thought you could never have, that you only fell for her in any way because she was a symbol of everything that you had to need. Her being Harry's cousin, being almost with Ron even, I thought that it might have just been some petty thing like that. . . You've made me realize that you aren't as superficial or even as vain as I formerly thought. I'm sorry for it all. We were immature kids. . . we were rivals and enemies in the worst way. I'm telling you now. . . I do anything to help you find Kit. I'll help you, even if it means hurting Ron. You've showed me that it really is important to you."
He shook his head, "Now, Hermione, don't go hurting Ron out of spite. He might not love you, but he deserves happiness. And I can handle myself. Right now, her mind is made up. . . she's just having a hard time opening up. I could already be out. I just want to know I tried. You go back to the infirmary, you look kind of tired. Rest. You're going to have a hard week."
Hermione tipped her head down, nodding as she let his hand fall. She turned and fled.
Kit walked out, ringing her hands. Madame Pomfrey followed her and left, leaving Her and Harry to talk as they pleased.
Kit looked around, confused, "Where'd Ron go?"
Harry shook his head, sighing, "I'm not sure. . . all he told me was to have you meet him by Slytherin."
She it her lip, thoughts bubbling up inside of her. She knew what she had done was wrong. She let her emotions come over her, and she lead Ron on. The urge to cry came over her and she sat down, trying to calm her self.
"Kit, are you alright?" Harry put and arm around her shoulder, trying to comfort her, "He'll be fine. . . Ron's not going to do anything stupid. He was a little shaken up, given what you did to him, but he'll be fine. . . don't worry about him."
"Harry, go find my mother. Tell her I'll see her later in the Great Hall. I really need to talk to her. . . and Ariah."
Harry nodded, "Where are you going?"
Kit just smiled, walking out with her head held high. Bruised, as well as physcially and emotionally exhausted, she walked on. She knew that if she were to find Draco and tie this all together she'd have to sacrifice sleep and comfort. She was finally ready. . . finally.
She walked out and down the cooridor, looking out the long window. She nearly fainted. . .
In the sky, on the ground. . . everywhere. . . She saw her mother, leading them on her broom, speeding through the air after the dementors. Hundreds of flying soldiers, all dressed in black armor, were trying to fend off the impending could of them. The sky was thick with the evil creatures, the soldiers adding to the black out. Her heart was beating fast as she walked, watching. Her mind had never expected this. . . she thought more along the lines of some big incantation, a warding spell.. Something. It seemed illogical for them to have up-close combat with the ghostly creatures.
Shaking it off, Kit pulled herself together and started sprinting towards Gryffindor commonrooom.
Ginny ran after the twins, trying hard not to stop. George was nearly frantic, racing as fast as he could down to the infirmary. Fred was sticking closer to Ginny, so he could make sure she didn't fall behind. Things were going through her head a mile a minute, what had led up to this moment. She had only just, it seemed, watched Ron and Harry race off, leaving her with no real instructions. In a haze, she had told Fred and George, not really understanding Ron and Harry's urgency. They, the twins, seemed to have the same reaction. Maybe it was just an overeaction. . .
Still, she found herself huffing and puffing as they came to the door, bursting inside to find a docile Harry. . . alone.
George spoke first, in typical Weasley fashion, "Alright, what the hell happened? Gin comes down all worried. . . I don't know what you were thinking, Harry. . . Why didn't you tell a teacher?"
Harry just sat there, as if in thought. Ginny sat next to him, putting a hand on his and looking him in the eye. "Where'd they all go?"
He took a deep breath, calming himself slowly. "Ron went off somewhere, to find something. You know Ron. . . no real explanations are ever given, just orders. Kit, after me telling her to meet Ron at Slytherin, left. But, not before telling me to find her mother. I just saw the oddest, most frightening thing I've seen, and everyone still seems to think that I'm just the messenger boy."
"Ginny, I think you'd better go back to Gryffindor. I have a feeling you might find a few people there. We, as in Harry, Fred, and I, will be staying right here for you to get back with everyone you find there."
Ginny nodded at George, not even staying behind to ask Harry what he had seen. In the back of her head, she already knew. The shock of war, the shock of having everything blown aside for one, pointless cause. While it wasn't the end of the world. . . it was the end of a deep, happy era.
Draco finally came to the portrait of the Fat Lady, his mind racing. He didn't know how to get inside, and no one was around. Stuck, he leaned against the wall and settled himself on the floor. Kit would be here. He knew it.
The Fat Lady seemed to be watching him uneasily, but that didn't bother him. He knew why he was here and he knew he meant no cain. Slowly, he saw the portrait open, revealing Kit and Hermione.
"I knew it! The last place you look is always the best place to look." Draco pulled her close, kissing her deeply.
He pulled back, looking at her. Her hair was disheveled and still beautiful, framing her slightly bruised face. Her clothes were worn and her right hand had a small but deep cut. She looked exhausted and angelic. . . beauty in the midst of chaos.
Hermione stood awkwardly, looking down to the floor. Draco glanced over, holding onto Kit.
"I'm sorry, I didn't go down to the Infirmary because I saw Kit on the way. I knew you were heading here. . . I just had to talk to her about a few things anyway." She looked up and smiled.
"I suppose I can forgive you. . . " Draco grinned, "I have a feeling we'll meet a few people soon anyway."
Kit turned to him, her face lighting up, "I'm so proud of you. . . I can't believe you're the same person I met at the beginning of the year. That boy who gawked and smirked at me, as if I were an object and not a person. As if I weren't beautiful, only something that could be lusted. You've changed so much."
"That's what a good relationship can do to an arrogant fool."
Hermione smiled at them, now leaning against the wall. Draco started to say something else, but was cut off by Kit exclaiming.
"Ginny! Oh my goodness!"
Ginny came running down the hall, her breath loud and rushed. In exhaustion, she collapsed onto the floor, passed out cold. Kit ran to her, her cheeks flushed and her eyes wide. Hermione and Draco followed closely.
Harry looked at George, who was pacing. So, Kit and him were a potential match. . . it all seemed so odd. He supposed this had all developed during the long period of time they spent together, talking about Draco and her's falling out. The more he thought about it, the more he could remember instances that connected him to her. The way they looked at each other during that time. . . like they both held something in each other. It also explained George's lack of a love interest. And his defensiveness thereof.
Fred was watching him too, looking as if he was holding his tongue. Fred looked a bit worse for wear, as if he was taking this all hard. He supposed it also had something to do with the shock of the war. It seemed to affect everyone equally. He had seen what had happened when his mother talked to them all together, the way Fred argued and fought over staying. His mother and his father were against Ginny and Ron being there, saying they'd be safer and more useful at home, but Fred wouldn't stand for it. He yelled until he was blue in the face, making each and every point he could. . . the end result was a mutual agreement and some distance between the twins and their parents.
Harry now found himself sitting there, nothing to say and nothing to talk about. His mind was still flashing bits and pieces of what he had seen. . . the cloud covered, the sun gone. Dementors, the one thing his mind could never get over. A fear worse than any other and it was suffocating him. He wanted to fight, he wanted to see it all resolved, but if he couldn't even get over it, himself facing Voldemort twice, it seemed even more impossible than ever.
In the corner of his eye, he saw Draco walk in, carrying a limp Ginny. Kit followed, as well as Hermione. . . Ron was nowhere in sight.
"What happened?" Fred asked, walking over to take Ginny out of Draco's arms. He set her pale form down on the nearest bed, sitting down beside her.
Kit stepped up George, putting an arm on his shoulder as Draco explained.
"She just passed out. Kit got into her mind shortly before she fell over. Luckily, she found out where you guys were." He walked over and sat down next to Harry, Hermione following suit.
George looked at Kit, who was just staring back. Harry seemed to sense some sort of conversation between them, and he was somewhat relieved that Draco wasn't paying any attention. George touched Kit's hand lightly, and hugged her. Draco looked over, seeming to catch on, but said nothing.
Hermione leaned over Draco to whisper to Harry, "We need to talk, outside."
He nodded, standing up and walking out after her.
"Kit, I was so worried about you. Are you alright? You're bruised! Where were you? I was so worried about you. . . "
Kit looked into George's weathered face, just smiling. She turned to see Draco sitting there, watching Fred fret over Ginny. It hurt her, thinking about the impending doom, and the meeting she had planned for the end. The song was the only way.
"I'm fine, don't worry anymore." She smiled again, this time it was infectious. She watched as George crazked a small smile of relief. He hugged her again, this time whispering in her ear.
"You always understand."
Ron walked into the Great Hall, his head spinning. He had been walking around for an hour, searching high and low for Zema. He spotted Snape sitting alone at a table, the hall empty and haunting. Snape was slowly sipping a mug of something warm, the steam rising steadily. Ron walked closer, hoping not to make him angry.
He noticed him as he walked closer, setting down the warm mug and surveying him with an expressionless face. Ron sat across from him, breathing in deeply. Snape just looked at him, seeming to know what was coming.
"Don't even bother. She's out. The attack has started. . . I'm only here to mediate. Dumbledore is in his office, if I'm somehow wrong in my assumption and you were really wanting to talk to him. For now, you can go out there and try to find her. . . but I doubt that you'll find anything you can handle."
Ron just stared, then slowly he replied, "Why are you so calm?"
He just shrugged, "It's a lot less stressful not to worry. Why do you think I look so young?"
He stood suddenly, leaving his cup there. Ron watched as he left, in utterly disbelief. He noticed something different about him, but he wasn't sure. It didn't seem like the same Snape. Not that he was a cruel bastard, but it seemed as if he were being too formal. Ron felt the urge to follow him, as if something inside of him knew that something was wrong with him. He shook that feeling, laying his head morosely on the table.
"Harry, Kit's going to sing the song. . . tonight. She said she knows that the war'll be over soon. . . something about having a premonition. It's not necessearily a "complete truth", as she said, she said it was more of a deep intuition."
"But," Harry protested, "it seems so soon. Directly after? Shouldn't she give herself some more time? I mean, everything might not even be settled then. . . they might not even be ready."
Hermione nodded solemnly, "That's what I said, but she seemed so sure of herself. I think she may have something else, but she's hiding that too. It's all so confusing."
Harry looked to the floor, trying to make some sense of everything. His head wasn't all together, and he felt a wave of exhaustion sweeping over him.
"Are you alright, Harry? You look a bit peaky. . . do you need to rest?" She put a hand on his shoulder, leading him towards the door.
He shook his head hastily, "No, no. . . I'm fine. I just need to sit down." He followed her inside, sitting next to Ginny's bed. Fred was sitting, facing the far wall with his head in his hands. Next to him sat Kit, who was rubbing his back to calm him. George was gone, and so was Draco. He heard voices in the back, they must've been talking to a recently returned Madame Pomfrey.
Ginny was laying peacefully, her breathing steady and soft. He swept a hair away from her brow, holding on to the feel of her porcelain skin. Hermione was now talking to Fred and Kit, glancing over to the back occasionally, at Nina. Harry looked back at the sleeping Ginny, as Madame Pomfrey came out, followed by the two boys. She came over, fretting with her wand as she bent over Ginny, shooing them away.
Kit and Draco were now whispering to each other, while George was watching Madame Pomfrey fuss over Ginny. Hermione was staring serenely out of the window, holding onto her talisman. He himself wished that he had one, seeing what wonders it worked on her. His mind strayed to Ron, remembering his request for them to go to Slytherin. He looked over at Kit, who was now looking at the floor. Draco was watching her, as if he had done something wrong. Harry opened his mouth to speak.
"I think we all need to go find Ron."
The twins looked up in unison, Hermione smiling. Kit and Draco stood, Harry following and leading everyone out. They told Madame Pomfrey to keep Ginny with her, since she so badly needed the rest.
Ron stood out on the grounds, watching the cloud of dementors disperse as the black swarm of wizards drove them back, all shooting silver Patronuses in unison, forming a giant sea of silver light against the dark day. He dropped down on his knees from the force of the blast, seeming to feel himself lift in the air. The moment his eyes opened, he saw the immediate end and relief of the wizards, all cheers rising from the sky. He saw Zema pull off her hood in celebration, her shinging silver hair flowing in the sky, seeming to empower the cheers of her companions even more as they too tossed aside their cloaks in joy.
Running into the school, Ron was followed by a sea of soldiers, their cheers ringing through the halls as he ran to the dungeons. In his fervor, he didn't notice Zema and Kiyle following after, they themselves knowing what was going on.
As they all reached the hall, he saw Harry and the others, grinning like fools as the three of them rushed towards the group.
Kit embraced Zema, the twins laughing as Kit nearly tackled Ron. Draco shook Kiyle and Zema's hands, the rest of them exchanging their own greetings too. Kit led them all inside the commonroom. It seemed like such a quick, but fitting end, and Ron could tell that she had something on her mind.
Draco nestled in beside Kit, George sitting by Hermione and Harry on the other long couch. Ron sat next to Kit, watching Fred and Kiyle talk. Zema was pacing, as if waiting for someone. To Ron's own surprise, Snape came into the room, grinning like a mad man.
"Zema," He began, his voice oddly light and floaty, "we need to talk."
Zema's eyes lit up, and she ran to him, hugging him with all of her might, "Oh, Severus. . . I thought that you left. I thought you were gone. When I asked Dumbledore and he told me that he couldn't even contact you, I almost cried. Where were you? Why are you so happy?"
Snape said nothing, opting to just smile and lead her out into the other room. Kiyle, who had been watching this short exchange along with everyone else, stood up in protest.
"What. . . He's got some nerve, coming in here like that." Kiyle started to follow after them, but Kit stopped him.
"Look, she'll be fine. I just think it's best of us not to stop them." She looked at him reassuringly, "We'll be able to talk to her later."
A/N: Okay, sorry for how LOOOOONG this took, but. . . damn, I can't even explain it. So. . . the other chap might take a week, because I just finished this one and the other one is going to take a bit of deliberation. I just hope I haven't lost my damn readers. DAMN! Gack. . . and other stuff.