Disclaimer : I own nothing but the plot. Everything else belong to Jo. :( :)) Ehh... whatever... At least now I can write fanfics about Harry and Hermione... And for that I must be very greatful. And I am. :D
A/N : Another year at the university. Another year of sleepless nights... These summer vacation was sooo short and it was rather boring for me. Me and my mom planned to visit Tunis but nothing worked out so all summer I was sitting in Moscow or at the summer cottage. Well, at least I have slept a lot. )))
Still can't believe that now I'm a second year student. Only 4 years till I'll become an editor. Compared to the 11 years of studing at school... 4 years is nothing.
This summer I celebrated my majority ! I'm 18 now and I can finally get my driver's lisence. Can't wait. :)
Ohhh... I have read the six book of Harry Potter and I must say that I'm very dissapointed. And not because there's no H/Hr ( but of course I was very upset about this ) in it but because when I was reading it, it seemed that I was reading a bad fanfic. Really. All 5 books were great but six book is... Well, I really don't like it.
Well, anyway, even if there's no H/Hr in the book I'll never stop writing fanfics. Never. For me, there's no other couple except for H/Hr. I have also seen the 4th Harry Potter movie. It was great! Even though they cut a lot from the book... Anyway, it's just a movie it can't be better than the book itself.
It was awesome! The cinema was full of Harry Potter fans. All of us were wearing cloaks and scarfs ( gryffindor, slytherin etc. ) That was a really magical night !
And now I give you the last chapter of this fanfic. Enjoy. And of course review ! ))
Life and Death
Chapter 20
Harry and Sirius were slowly walking in the direction of professor Dumbldore's office trying not to make too much noise. They didn't need it right now.
Harry was very anxious. A thought that many students could be already dead never left his head and was forcing him to hurry up. He couldn't let someone get killed because of him. Voldemort needs him and Salathar's collection and for this he's ready for anything. Death of a few students is nothing for him if only it will help him to get what he wanted. The Dark Lord knew perfectly how to allure Harry. He just needed to play on his mania - to save everybody all the time. Harry would risk his life even to save someone he don't know, let alone those whom he knew perfectly. In fact he could surrender to Voldemort right now in order to save other students lifes but he doubted that Volemort will keep his promise... That's why the most important thing right now - was to save the professors. If he and Sirius will manage to do that then they will have some sort of advantage , then could win some time and then Hermione and aurors will come... Well, at least he hoped that she'll get back in time.
- So, Harry? What plan do you have? I think it's time to tell me 'cause we're not far away from Dumbldore's office... - Sirius said. Harry nodded in agreement.
- My point is : I'll try to distract them and withdraw them from Dumbldore's office as far as possible . And you will try to open that door and release professors. That's our only chance. I doubt that we can struggle against Voldemort and Death Eaters on our own.
- Harry, maybe it will be better for me to distract them...? - suggested Sirius. Harry negatively shook his head.
- No, you're more skillful wizard. You have more chances to open that damn door...
- What if they'll catch you? - Sirius frowned.
- How? I'm invisible!
- Anything can happen, you know... - Sirius said meaningly and looked away. Harry thought at first that he hinted on his incredible ability to put his life in danger but the was no time to find out was it true or not. They were very close to Dumbldore's office.
A statue which usually was blocking the way to the screw ladder which was leading to professor Dumbldore's office was now standing near the entry and so Sirius and Harry simply started to climb up the stairs trying not to make too much noise. When they appeared near the door they stopped in an instant as though they were suddenly petrified.
There were at least six Death Eaters standing near the door with wands in their hands ready to cast a spell at anyone who dared to come near the door. Harry involuntary shuddered and silently thanked Tonks for teaching Sirius the spell of invisibility. He was frozen for another few seconds and then he reminded himself that it's time to do what he was going to do before it's too late.
Harry started to walk down the stairs trying to make as much noise as possible. He even started to beat the walls around him with his palms to make sure that he'll catch Death Eater's attention.
The plan worked. Alarmed Death Eaters rushed to search for the source of the strange sounds. Two of them remained to guard the door but Harry was sure that Sirius will take care of them. Servants of the Dark Lord were about to overtake him, he could feel it. So he had to speed up. Now there was no need to rustle 'cause the faster he ran the more audible his footsteps echoed in the corridor. He was running with all strength he had but still he could feel that the Death Eaters were very close to him. He could almost feel their breathing at the back of his head. He felt annoying pain spreading through his legs. He almost didn't feel them. Harry was running almost like a robot. On his way down the corridor he managed to turn over the armour which was standing near the wall. It stopped two Death Eaters and there were another two left. Those who fell down couldn't join their race yet.
- Stupefi! - Harry heard suddenly behind his back. His reaction was fast. He avoided the incantation just in time. He jumped aside and bumped into another armour near the wall. Death Eaters must've thought that the Invisible man is lying on the floor after such a crush. One of the wizadrs casted a few spells at the spot near the armour but naturally it didn't hit anything. They were crawling on the floor trying to find somebody but of course they found nothing.
Harry got up from the stone floor and tried to catch his breath before another race across the Hogwarts corridors. Of course he had managed to distract Death Eaters for some time but it wasn't enough for Sirius to release the professors. In a few minutes he had to run again and take Voldemort's servants as far away from the Headmaster's office as possible.
While Harry was trying to calm his breathing (he was breathing through his nose trying not to make noise before the right moment), those two who stumbled over the armour came. One of them was limping, the other was stroking his forehead.
- Well? Did you catch him?
- No... he just disappeared...
- No-no... he's somewhere here... I don't hear the footsteps. I'm sure that it's a student. Oh, god... when I'll catch him he will understand what pain is...
Harry involuntary shuddered hearing such a promise. The last thing he wanted - is to be caught by the Death Eaters. Feeling himself ready he started to run as fast as he could away from them. Lord Voldemort's servants surely heard the excluding steps and ran after him. Now four Death Eaters were at his heels and what was even worse he started to get tired even faster after that little break he had a few minutes ago. The pain in his legs was terrible. He was trying not to stop even for a second but he knew that any time now his legs will force him to stop and in that case he will be in the Death Eater's hands. And that means... He didn't want even to think about what will happen... he just hoped that Sirius and Hermione will be here in time.
He was running forward and was about to turn to the right when suddenly another Death Eater appeared in front of him.
- What's happening here? - Was all he could say before he felt a hard blow in his stomach. He fell backwards and slid across the floor.
Harry hit his head badly and was just lying on the floor in the middle of the corridor. Now he had no doubts that he will be caught. Sirius was right. The invisibility gave him advantage but not for a long. His vision was blurred from a sharp pain at the back of his head. In the next moment he felt somebody's rigid grip on his shoulders. Then somebody roughly put him on his feet. His knees went weak but somebody's strong arms didn't let him fall.
- Are you allright? - he heard one of the Death Eater's voice. He bent down near his friend who was still lying on the floor.
- Yeah. - he answered. - What was that? - He asked getting up and stroking his head.
- It's a student... He decided to play games with us... - Answered the one that held Harry by his arms. The Death Eater came closer and looked at Harry. Well, of course he saw nothing there but it was clear that his friend couldn't hold air in his arms. He rose an eyebrow.
- A student? I doubt that students know the spell - Invisiblus. It is known mostly to the aurors. No... it's not just a simple student.
The Death Eater pointed his wand at Harry and cast some strange incantation. He felt as if a warm wind suddenly blew into his face and then when he lowered his eyes he found out that he was visible again.
" I'm, doomed " - a thought rushed through his head.
- Potter! - One of the Death Eaters bursted out. An expression of rage appeared on their faces. Harry knew perfectly well that they wanted to kill him right here, right now especially those who were unlucky to stand on the way of the armour falling to the floor. One of them couldn't take it anymore. He just suddenly hit Harry in the stomach. Harry was sure that he saw stars. He coughed and almost fell to the floor but strong arms that were sqeezing him prevented him from doing so.
- Stop! - shouted the Death Eater that was holding him. - We must take him to the Dark Lord. He will be pleased. Very pleased.
- Fine! - the other hissed. - Let's go then.
Afterward Harry could hardly understand what was happening. The strong blow deprived his ability to perceive the world around him. He felt that servants of Voldemort were dragging him somewhere, possibly in the direction of the library. It was clear that Voldemort didn't manage to find the entrance to Salathar's library. "He must be furious right now..." - Harry thought preparing himself for the worst. Maybe he won't live till tomorrow. Voldemort killed him not very long time ago, but Hermione revived him... And now he'll make sure that that won't happen again.
Harry was trying to focus his vision on something but everything was swirling before his eyes. Finally he felt that he had been thrown to the floor. Harry slipped on the floor feeling strong pain in his knees. For some time he was just lying on the floor trying to remain conscious until he heard a cold and very familiar voice which made him quiver :
- Potter... So nice of you to come back to me... You know, when I realised that you and your precious mudblood tricked me I was going to transfer my anger on those students that are still in the Great Hall. But now you relieved me from such necessity. You will suffer instead of them. - Harry rose his head and looked at Voldemort with all hate he had. - If I didn't get what I wanted then I will get what I deserve - the right for revenge...
- You killed me before, Riddle. Not enough? I have been dead already!
- I don't know how but that mudblood managed to revive you. Spells like that could be found only in Salathar's library. When I'll be done with you, Potter I will force her to tell me where it is.
- You won't touch her! - Harry said through his teeth.
- Interesting... How are you going to stop me when you'll be finally dead till that moment! - Voldemort shouted rising his wand and casting "crucio" at him.
Harry was shouting so loudly that he felt pain in his throat. He sprawled against the floor, scratching smooth marble slabs with his fingernails as cold as that cold voice that knows no mercy. He felt that like he was falling into the deep dingy hole with no bottom. Everything before his eyes turned to dark...
When Harry regained consciousness he found that he was still lying on the floor. He heard voices. They were audible as if from a distance. It was Death Eaters who dragged him here and also Voldemort talking with them about something. Harry slowly opened one eye then the other one. Black dotts were making it hard for him to see anything. Everything was swirling in a mad dance.
- Oh, Potter... You're with us again... How wonderful. I feared that I killed you too soon. - The was a loud laugh from behind him. - I understood that it will be foolish to kill you right now 'cause I'm sure that you know something about how to find Salathar's hidden library. And I swear that you WILL tell me how to find it.
- I won't tell you anything Voldemort 'cause I don't know anything. You can kill me... then Hermione will revive me again. - He smirked.
- Oh, you can be sure that I won't let this happen. - there was a pause for some time and then suddenly Voldemort's eyes widened. He turned to his servants and roared :
- Where did you find Potter?
One of the Death Eaters stepped forward and lowered his head in a bow.
- We caught him in the corridor, master. He was running from the Headmaster's office. Obviously he understood he can't save the professors.
- Idiots! You left office without protection!
- But my Lord, he was there all alone.
- Oh, yeah? And you're so sure about that? He was just distracting you all so that someone could release professors! Fools! I can't believe that you left no one to guard the door!
- Crabb and Dolohov are there, my Lord.
- I'm sure they're not already. All of you! You must get back to the Headmaster's office! Now!
- But what about you, master?
- You think that I can't handle with a boy! - Voldemort pointed his wand at him and casted a spell of pain. The Death Eater bent down and a terrible scream echoed in the library. - Well! Why are you still here?
There was no need to repeat it twice. Crowd of Death Eaters rushed to the exit and their footsteps excluding in the direction of the Headmaster's office were audible for quite a long time until they finally abated and there was silence again. Harry could only hope that Sirius managed to release the professors.
- Finally. - Voldemort said wearily and looked at Harry with hatred and impatience in his eyes.
Harry who was still a bit dizzy after the Cruciatus curse, tryed to focus his eyes on Voldemort and hissed through his teeth:
- It's too late. I'm sure that all the professors are free now and I can't even imagine what they will do with your servants... Especially Dumbldore. Besides a group of aurors will be here any minute now. I will repeat my question once again: It was foolishness to appear in the school, wasn't it, Riddle?
This time Voldemort somewhat didn't react on Harry calling him by his muggle name. He only burst out laughing with a dry, disgusting laugher which made Harry quiver.
- I think you're bluffing, Potter. - The Dark Lord said, laughing loudly. Harry rised on his hands and took a sedentary position. He haven't got any strength to stand on his feet.
- You're so sure about that? - Harry asked, his eyebrows rised. The reliance erased from the Dark Lord's face. His eyes widened a bit and when he looked on his enemy's face he realised that he was telling the truth. He just had to admit his defeat.
- Well, Potter, you won a battle but not a war. Victory will be mine. But you won't see it. Your mudblood will bring aurors here but that won't change enything. When they'll get here only a heap of ash will remain to remind that there was a Boy-Who-Lived. So live your hope that your mudblood will revive you once again.
Harry didn't react on his words. He was just looking at Voldemort with stone-like face. He was somewhat sure that luck is on his side and everything will end well. That feeling was very exciting 'cause he never felt anything like this before. So he just smiled to Voldemort. The Dark Lord smiled too.
- You're amused by my words, Potter? I think I'll wipe away your smile when I'll tell you what I'm going to do with you... I won't kill even though for what you did to me you deserve only death... it would be more humane... Do you know Longbottoms? They also were standing on my way and payed for that. I'll do the same with you.
Harry felt fear swept over him. Now when his wand was in Voldemort's hands he only could hope that Hermione and the others will get here in time before he'll went crazy from a terrible pain.
Red eyes flashed with anticipation. Harry saw that in Voldemort's eyes before. And he already knew what will be next. There was nothing he could do. He couldn't run anywhere, he couldn't defend himself. He was trapped. It was a second time when he felt himself helpless. And that feeling was disgusting.
Harry saw Voldemort pointing his wand at him and closed his eyes expecting to feel quaint pain which he knew so well. But instead of pain he felt something different. All of sudden scenes from the past started to swirl before his eyes. His childhood, school... All this memories like slidshow was scrolled before his eyes and then just disappeared. He felt a strong wave of pain wash over him. He screamed but didn't hear himself screaming. It was as if a monster was tearing his brain and absorbing it. He wanted to do anything to stop this but there was nothing he could do. His brain was fighting with each attack but with no success.
Another image appeared before his eyes...Hermione Granger. Here she's standing near him holding his hand, here she's kissing him, here she's smiling at him and laughing with him...
- NOOOOO! - Harry screamed at the top of his laungs trying to isolate his brain from the power that was destroying his memories. He gathered all his strength to save them, to hide them deep in his mind. Harry felt as though some kind of warmth was moving from his legs, arms and chest straight to his head. Harry felt that he fell on the stone floor and hit his chin which responded with a booming blunt pain. He couldn't feel his body anymore. His strength was concentrated on protecting his precious memories. He couldn't let the Dark Lord take them away from him. Voldemort already took away too much. Sometimes these sweet memories was all he had...
He felt that all the strength he had were slowly fading and he understood that he couldn't oppose that spell for a long time. He was going to give in when suddenly everything ended. As if from a distance he heard somebody's footsteps, screams... And then all of sudden everything went quiet. He felt that somebody bent down over him saying his name but he couldn't even open his eyes to see who it was. Darkness captured him.
Hermione couldn't let herself leave Harry's bedside. He spent 3 days in the infirmary already and there was no improvement in his condition. And she was very worried. He was livid, his lips were a bit bluish as if he spent a lot of time in the cold water. He was just lying on the bed like...like... Hermione didn't want to even think about that. She was trying to force herself to hope for the best but some daft thought still were troubling her. At first no one knew what exactly happened to Harry. When she, Dumbldore and a few aurors burst into the library they saw Voldemort pointing his wand at his victim and Harry lying on the floor with outstreched hands. He wasn't screaming or anything... he wasn't even moving. But with only one look at his face it was clear that he was suffering. The battle with Voldemort never begun, he just disappeared.
For a strange reason he didn't kill Harry. It was because there was no time to do it or it was because he need Harry for something. Hermione was hoping that it was the first variant even though everything was pointing that the Dark Lord didn't kill him on purpose. Eventually, Hermione decided not to think about it and concentrate on the thought that Harry is alive and nothing else matters. Yeah... even though he was lying in the hospital wing for three days already and he wasn't getting any better still he was alive. That was something.
But she wanted more... 'Mione wanted him to open his eyes and smile at her, she wanted it soo bad... She didn't need anything else. She suddenly remembered that night when Harry died. Hermione could perfectly remember his livid face, his glass-like eyes and his pale lips. Those memories made her shudder. Noo... This time he'll survive, he won't leave her.
She was squeezing his palm and suddenly felt his fingers moving. She gazed at him. Harry opened his eyelids and saw her at once.
Memories of the previous days swirled before her eyes and she shook her head to get rid of them. Herm concentrated all her attention on Harry who was looking at her as if he didn't know her. Hermione felt fear swept over her. She remembered madam Pomfrey's words when she told them about Harry's condition. Nevertheless she decided not to jump to conclusions and check if her assumptions were right.
- Harry? - She said, her voice was shaking. With all the strength she had she was trying to fight back the tears which were forming in her eyes.
Harry blinked a few times and focused his gaze on her once again.
- Hermione... - He croaked feeling that his tongue refused to obey his owner.
'Mione signed with relief. Obviously madam Pomfrey had made a mistake. It's so good that people sometimes make mistakes.
- How are you feeling?
He licked his dried lips and spoke again.
- Exhausted... but fine, I guess. What happened?
- We almost lost you. Voldemort was trying to destroy all your memories. You were trying to resist the spell and all your strength faded because of that. If we were just a little late... I guess I wouldn't be talking to you right now. - She made a pause trying to get rid of the image of the dead Harry lying on the grass. It took place quite reciently and those memories wouldn't want to leave her. They were pursuing her like ghousts. - I was so scared... You were unconscious for almost three days.
Harry sqeezed her hand with all the strength left in his body. He smiled weakly trying to encourage her.
- Everything's fine. I'm okay. By the way, what about other students that were trapped in the Great Hall?
- They're all fine. Nobody got wounded.
- And professors?
- Lupin and Sprout were wounded but it wasn't serious. They're fine now just like all the others.
Harry made a pause before asking another question.
- And what about Voldemort?
- He disappeared, Harry. When we came in. He didn't even try to fight.
Harry sighed and moved his eyes away. Hermione bent down over him and kissed his forehead.
- Don't worry, Harry. Everything's over now. Now everything will be great...
- No. - he said cooly. - Everything will be over when Voldemort will be dead. Until then...
- Let's stop thinking about it. We'll handle this... together. - She assured him smiling widely. - Everything ended well this time. Let's be grateful for that. No one died, half of Voldemort's servants are killed or in Azkaban. We can be glad with all our hearts that everything ended like that.
Harry smiled.
- You're right. But I'm even more happy knowing that you're safe.- He whispered feeling Hermione's lips touching his. After that she layed her head on the pillow near Harry's head and looked into his eyes with a smile playing on her lips.
- I feared that I can lost you again. - She confessed and her eyebrows moved together.
- You'll never loose me. I promise. No matter what I'll always try to be careful.
She touched his lips again but this time more passinetly.
- You know... - 'Mione started but wasn't able to finish her sentence because Ron Weasley came to the infirmery shouting as he strode. Madam Pomfrey was walking right behind him telling him to keep silence in order not to disturbe the patients. But it seemed that Ron wasn't paying attention at her.
- Harry! I just arrived, entered the school and saw that it was full f aurors! I was trying to find you and one auror told me that you're in hospital wing! Hi, Hermione - he greeted her quickly noticing her near Harry's bed for the first time. - What the hell happened while I was at Dean's home?
Hermione looked at Harry who looked back at her and smiled.
- Ron, it's a long story and I'm not sure that it's the right time to tell you everything that happened while you were gone.
Ron came closer to his friend's bed and frowned.
- But... you're alright now? How're you feeling?
Harry exchanged meaningful looks with Hermione and smiled widely.
- Yeah... Now everything's great...
THE END