Disclaimer; see in Part One.

Hidden Bridges
Ryoko Porter

Part Twenty-Three

'What is our task? To make Britain a fit country for heroes to live in.'

David Lloyd George

It was late in the evening, five nights after the publishing of the article that Voldemort answered the challenge. It came by way of a horribly violent vision that struck Harry as he slept beside his love. He dreamt of a place that that he did not know, as the Dark Lord presented himself. Harry could not help but watch and listen as his enemy told one of his followers of his plans to destroy Hogwarts after he'd killed the "Boy Who Lived". Then with no warning or explanation, Voldemort killed the poor sap that he'd been talking to. It was the feeling that Harry got that really frightened him though. Voldemort didn't need to do anything to exude his evil aura, it was just there strangling him and any other who was close enough to feel.

Poor Draco was terrified when he awoke to find his lover lost in the trance of his nightmare. It'd only happened a few times in his presence before—that he knew of, and scared him like little else did. He worried for his beloved's safety and sanity, both of which could be in danger as he was pulled into such experiences. This night, Draco had only by chance had awoken in the night for no apparent reason, to discover his lover's plight. Now all that he could do was be there when Harry woke up.

When Harry did finally wake up, he was cold with sweat and his breathing was uneven. Draco had only been watching for a few minutes, but to him it'd felt much longer. But as he watched the green eyes open, he quickly pulled his shaking lover into his comforting arms. And after a few quiet minutes of calming both of their nerves, Harry finally spoke.

'I shouldn't be this frightened, how am I ever going to win if I'm this scared of a vision?' Harry muttered hopelessly.

'Harry, do you know what true bravery is? It is not the blind fighting that you Gryffindors seem to think that it is. True bravery is ability to feel your fear and accept it, but at the same time face it. I have no doubt that when we finally fight this battle we will all be scared shitless, but I plan to use my fear to keep myself alive. And to keep you alive, and Luna. Fear isn't useless Harry; it keeps you and those you love alive and well, if you use it correctly. Fear doesn't make you weak, on the contrary it makes you strong!' Draco comfortingly explained.

'Damn Slytherins!' Harry grumbled at the horribly logical point of view. Though he had to admit that it made sense, it all had to do with nature.

'Damn Gryffindors!' Draco grumbled right back, though his was playful. 'Always blindly putting yourselves in bad situations! With little consideration of how you actually intend to get out if it later!'

'Oh? And tell me, what is your plan for the fight then? If things do not go well, how do you plan to survive?' Harry asked slightly accusingly.

'Without you Harry, I don't plan to. Nor do I think that I could. I think that's what scares me most now, that I will be torn away from you! I'm afraid of loosing my meaning in life!' Draco lamented.

Harry then kissed his lover deeply, lovingly, comfortingly; trying to take away any of those morbid thoughts for the moment. 'Just once more before we have to go,' He whispered longingly to Draco. They then wrapped their arms around each other and continued to kiss; as Harry adjusted so that he was a top is beautiful lover.

♦♦♦

Young Luna also had a night not unlike Draco, awakening to find her lover in a distressed sleep. She too could do nothing but watch helplessly as Julian tossed his head from side to side, a heavy sweat covering his brow. Unfortunately though in the short time that she had taken to his bed, this behavior was usual. So when he awoke startled, she was surprised when he gasped out the reason for his dream.

'Voldemort! He's taken the bait!' Julian's voice was full of wicked satisfaction. 'At daybreak, on the Scottish Highlands!'

'But that is only a few hours from now!' Luna bothered.

'Yes, that should give enough time to say goodbye before we have to gather the others!' Julian grinned as he moved over Luna.

'Harry and Draco are "saying goodbye", aren't they?' Luna giggled as Julian's eyes clouded with lust.

'Yes, but I want to say goodbye to you! And to existence! Won't you let me do that, my dear one?' Julian said as he kissed her bare shoulder.

'Of course my love!'

And so, they too took the short time that they had to express their love for what would definitely be for them the last time.

♦♦♦

It was only an hour after the two couples had awoken that Harry and Draco made their way to Julian's apartment. When they got there, Luna who was just leaving to gather Hermione and Ron greeted them at the door.

'We're almost ready guys! I'm just going to collect the others!' she explained.

'Do you know the password to Gryffindor common-rooms?' Harry called after her as she started jogging down the hall.

'Do you?' she called back as she slowed so that she could run backwards.

'Well…' Harry hesitated, realizing that he'd forgotten since he'd not been there for so long.

'Never mind Harry! I'll find a way in!' Luna called back as she again turned to run faster down the hall.

'I'd bet money that Julian's taught her someway to get past all of the security in this place,' Harry observed absently.

'Probably, though I really hope that they talked about other things during their short time together,' Harry commented.

The two boys then went into the room, to find Julian waiting for them. His expression was somber, but confidence was in it too. From looking at him, they could tell that he guessed that they would win the fight, and that he would in a way die.

'I won't be dying, just ceasing to exist,' Julian corrected both Harry and Draco's silent thoughts. 'Now while Luna collects Ron and Hermione, we will go over the plans for the battle. Even though the challenge was stated as being one on one, we all know that Voldemort with bring his cohorts with him. But Harry, so shall you.'

The three men continued to plan for the next ten minutes, psyching themselves up for what was to come. But then a strange quiet came down upon them, and they stopped thinking of the battle.

'Both of you; take care of Luna for me, will you?' Julian said suddenly. But before either Harry or Draco could answer, they were interrupted by the appearance of the others.

♦♦♦

In the hazy light of an early morning fog, Harry walked alone across the hills of the Highlands. He did not know when he would meet up with his foe, so all that he could was keep his guard up. But he didn't have long to wait until I could see dark figures coming through the fog toward him.

'Hello Harry,' Voldemort hissed wickedly. 'So nice of you to keep your end of the bargain! I'm almost sorry that I did not keep mine,' he nodded at the group of about a hundred followers.

'Yes, well I had expected that you would bring them,' Harry condescended.

'Really?' Voldemort looked skeptical. 'Well then why don't we get to it? Shall we?'

The two then moved into a formal dueling stance; a strange practice for the mortal enemies to observe, considering the circumstance. They both then bowed, though they still kept their eyes trained on the other. Then positioning themselves, they readied to fire.

'A question Harry, before you die,' Voldemort said suddenly. 'Who's wand was it that was in Lucius's stomach?'

'It was mine!' Harry grinned, and then fired a spell at Voldemort.

End Part 23.

Oh THANK GOD that's over with! Sorry it took so long, but I had to write it three times until I was finally happy with it. There are technically only two chapters to go; however I will probably write three. I can't decide on an ending; there is either the "happy" one, which I think most of you readers would like best. And there is the one that I like better, though it gets a bit weird. So I thought that I'd write and post both, and you guys can decide. Well until next time, bye!

Ryoko Porter

PS. I did finally decide what to make Harry, and I'm sorry it didn't make it into this chapter. But had I put it in… it would've made the story move too quickly. And how about some more review people?