Disclaimer: I own nothing but part of the plot and a couple characters of my own creation.
Author's Note: Hey, everyone. Here's another chapter of Not the Last. I'm glad I got it out the time I wanted to. I try to update every week or so, but I thought it might take longer with this chapter. However, here it is. Kudos to me! (Just kidding). While I'm giving kudos, I would like to offer some to my FABULOUS editor, Belba Sandylows. She's amazing and has really helped me in my writing. So thanks Belba! Keep the reviews coming, everybody and enjoy this next chapter of Not the Last!
Not the Last
Chapter 8-Decisive Decisions
Beep! Beep! Beep! Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep!
The alarm clock blasted through the silence in Bennett's room.
"Stupid Remus!" Bennett grumbled into his pillow.
He rolled out of bed and shut the alarm off with a slam of his fist on the "snooze" button. Now that he was awake, he decided to get dressed and go talk to Remus. He found him sitting in the kitchen reading the Prophet and drinking coffee from a chipped mug.
"Morning," Remus said, not bothering to glance up.
"Why'd you set my alarm?" Bennett asked indignantly.
"I have to run a few errands in Diagon Alley today and I wanted to talk to you before I left."
"Shoot," Bennett said as he poured himself a cup of cold coffee and sat down across from Remus.
"Bennett, I know you believe your theory about Peter is correct, and I will admit that some things make sense. But at the moment, things have been quiet since Voldemort fell. My advice to you is to wait and let things...unfold," Remus finished, staring Bennett straight in the eye.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Bennett said as he skillfully avoided Remus's eyes.
"I have a feeling you know exactly what I'm talking about," Remus replied simply.
After he finished his coffee, Remus promptly left, saying he wouldn't be home until the evening hours.
Once Bennett was sure Remus had turned the corner, he sprang into action. He went over to Remus's bookshelves and started looking for the "D" section. He knew his friend well enough that he would organize his books alphabetically.
He flipped through books, searched indexes, and had finally found all the books on what he was looking for:
Dementors.
As he turned away from the bookcase he was able to see what his hunt had earned him.
In front of him lay at least 30 books with information on Dementors. When Bennett had started his search he hadn't thought it would produce this many results.
"How am I supposed to read through this many books? With every day, Pettigrew gets farther away. Time is of the essence!" he thought to himself in frustration.
"I need someone who's a fast reader, but can still get me the information I need," he thought a he started to pace the room.
"I also need someone who will actually recognize the information I need."
He paced back and forth a little while longer until suddenly, he stopped in his tracks as if a light bulb had gone on in his head.
Bennett grabbed the phone and dialed. After a few rings, Holly picked up.
"Hello?"
"Holly? It's Bennett. I was wondering if you could come over and help me with something?" he said hurriedly into the phone.
"Uh...sure. Are you alright? You sound out of breathe," she replied.
"I'm fine. Just please come over."
"Fine. I'm on my way," Holly said before she hung up.
Bennett replaced the phone just as there was a knock on the door. A confused Holly stood in front of him when he opened the door.
"Hi, Ben-," was all Holly could say before Bennett dragged her inside.
Holly stared at the books and her confusion increased.
"What's with all the books?"
"I need to do some research on Dementors and I can't read all these by myself, so that's why you're here," Bennett explained simply. Perhaps, too simply...
"Ok. Let's get started then," Holly said, feeling that Bennett wasn't telling her something.
After many hours and much reading, Bennett still hadn't found what he was looking for. To make matters even grimmer, they were down to their last few books.
After nearly a day of silence, Holly hesitantly broke the silence.
"What did you say you were looking for again, Bennett?" she asked meekly.
Without looking away from his book, Bennett said, "I need to find a weakness of some sort. Not a huge weakness, but a weakness all the same."
"Well, then I think I found something," Holly replied as she handed Bennett the book she had been reading and pointed to a section for him to read.
Bennett took the book and started to read where she had indicated:
Since Dementors can't see, they must sense their way to people off his/her emotions. However, Dementors can't sense the emotions of animals as well as a human's because their thoughts are less complex than those of a human's. This is the reason memory charms must be placed on criminals that were at any point an Animagus. Officials wouldn't want them to transform and escape.
As he read more and more, Bennett's smile grew until he was absolutely giddy with excitement.
"Holly, Holly- th-this is perfect!" he stammered.
"Your welcome," Holly said, a little confused at how excited he was.
"I could, I could-."
Without any warning at all, Bennett leapt up and kissed Holly squarely on the lips.
After the shock had passed, Holly's spirits sky-rocketed to the moon. As a girl she had read every romance novel she could find. She had waited, hoped, and dreamed about this moment and now that it had come she was so unbelievably happy. But just as soon as it started, Bennett pulled away.
"I have to go," Holly said shortly and walked out the door.
Bennett smiled secretly to himself because he knew that she had enjoyed the kiss.