Chapter 11: Time for a Little Reunion

Both Harry and Mara had another dream one night. But their dreams had slight differences. Mara's dream included her conflicting mind and choices.

This time, she was standing still, but the cold green light still cast a ghastly effect across the place. She looked straight ahead to see rows upon rows of hooded figures. All she could see of their faces was their dull eyes glinting in the green light with a malicious purpose. She looked to her left to see Harry, the green light reflecting off his glasses, and beneath those black frames his face wore a look of pure determination. Looking right, she saw Draco. His light blonde hair absorbed the green light, which would have made him look evil, had he been another Slytherin. His eyes were full of emotion, feeling for the girl standing next to him, and the need to keep her safe from the Death Eaters; then the reminder of seeing his father's face in each of the dark hoods, the one look Mara did not completely understand when she saw him. Then, they both took her hands at the same time, and squeezed reassuringly. She nodded and they ran toward the foreboding group, wands ready for the battle which was about to ensue.

Harry's dream was vaguely similar without the conflict of feeling.

The same green light he knew so well shone brightly. Looking around, he could not find the source. He looked at the Death Eaters, and saw their glazed eyes intent on Mara. Fury rose up in him. He had to protect her. He looked to his right just as she looked to the left. Their gazes met, and she seemed a little scared. She had every right to be, of course, but this was his chance. He brought his face close to hers and murmured in her ear, "Don't be afraid. We'll get through this." Then he kissed her, just for a moment or two, but his spirit flew. She nodded, smiling quietly. She looked out on the rows of Death Eaters, and her dark blue eyes, which usually looked so sweet and, at times, innocent, turned to an icy color, and her small, rosy mouth was set determinedly. He took her hand and intertwined their fingers. "Let's go," he said, and, wands raised, they ran toward the unmoving cloud of dark cloth and eyes swimming in the bath of a horrible green glow.

When Mara awoke, she not only was terrified, but there was a twisting in her gut, a twisting she was now very familiar with. She knew it came whenever she thought about what her decision would be. It had been almost a week since she'd drawn the gold letters into the air.

She crept down to the common room, where she sat in one of the large comfy armchairs and got out her wand to write in the air again. From her wand came a silver string of glittering ink-like substance, forming elegant lettering that spelled out "Draco," just above her head. At the same time, the same substance, in gold, boldly squeezed from the tip of her wand, and spelled "Harry" in scratchy print, right in front of her chair.

"Make new friends," she sang softly, "but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold." The familiar tone of the song she had sung since childhood rang through her mind as the notes flowed from her mouth as the substance had flowed from her wand. As she finished singing, Harry was coming down the staircase, and saw the silver lettering from behind her. He had stopped a moment, eyes closed, listening to her voice. When he opened his eyes, the first thing they registered was the silver letters, and the thought of that squeezed around his heart like a dementor's grip, sucking the happiness from him. The letters disappeared. He sat down on the stairs, just as Mara spoke. "Why can't I choose? And why can't I say, even to myself… the one word I'm sure I feel for at least one of them. Why can't I…"

He wondered what she had meant. Choose? Choose what? And what word? She had Draco's name in the air, he thought. He stood, and just before she took them away, saw his name in the scratchy print he knew wasn't typeset. He knew because it was his own. Then, Mara slowly formed another word into the air. "Love," it said in pink, "olde-tyme" lettering. Then, in dark purple, she willed another word to form, in tall, bold writing. "Fear," was directly underneath love. "Love fear." She flicked her wand and put love underneath fear. Now the message said, "Fear love."

"I know I fear love… I know I cannot choose… I know I cannot see my heart's desire. If I cannot see it, I wish I only knew how to find it."

He quietly went back up the stairs, and then slightly louder, came down them.

"Harry!" Mara looked behind her, surprised. The message disappeared in an instant. "Couldn't sleep?"

He shook his head, then said, "I had a… bad dream. Just a regular dream." He smiled. "I came down because I couldn't get back to sleep afterwards."

"Oh," she said articulately. "Something was bothering me."

He nodded. "I understand." They sat in silence for a minute, and Mara wanted so much to sing. It always made her feel better. But… not while there was someone else there. She was sure she'd mess up.

He looked over at her, and saw the look on her face. He knew that look. It appeared when you wanted to do something, but something was stopping you.

Nervous now, she looked into the fiery depths of the fireplace. Not thinking, she began humming, a melody that sounded bell-like.

The words ran through her head.

I didn't know what was in store

When I walked right through the door…

Harry heard her. "That sounds great. Could you… sing it?"

"Hmm? What do you mean?"

He hummed it back to her. "You were humming that. I've never heard it before."

"It's more of a girl's song. And I… guess I could sing it. It might not be perfect."

"But I'm sure it'll be great. Just try it."

"I didn't know what was in store

When I walked right through the door

Then I saw you over there

Our blue eyes locked in a stare

I didn't know quite what to say

Sometimes words get in the way

I remember the night you said

Let's go for a ride

I didn't want the night to end

Hoping that we'd be more than friends

Yet little did I know before, we would be something more

In black and white I read the screen

All your lines and in between

And then your message on the phone,

I saved to hear when all alone

And now I know just what to say

This doesn't happen everyday

I remember the night you said

Let's go for a ride

I didn't want the night to end

Hoping that we'd be more than friends

Yet little did I know before, we would be something more

Something more, something more

We would be something more

Something more, something more

I know we're both young,

But we know how we feel

We know what is false

And we know what is real

I remember the night you said

Let's go for a ride

I didn't want the night to end

And I remember the night you said

Let's go for a ride

I didn't want the night to end

Hoping that we'd be more than friends

Yet little did I know before, we would be something more

I remember the night you said

Let's go for a ride

Hoping that we'd be more than friends

Yet little did I know before, we would be something more

Something more,

Something more,

Something more," she finished it softly and smiled just as softly, happy she had sang it right.

"If that's wrong, I hope I never hear it right. It wouldn't do your way justice."

"Thanks, but that was the real deal. Thanks for letting me sing… It helps me a lot."

"I definitely understand that," he said with feeling. "Besides, you're way better than you give yourself credit! It's a shame Hogwarts has no choir. You'd be the star."

"I wouldn't want to be… I'm not very…"

"You've got singing confidence problems? Oh. Well, I still think you have a wonderful voice."

Mara blushed. "Thank you. I think I'm going up to bed now. See you in the…" She looked at her watch. "Scratch that. I'll see you later."

As she left, he wondered who that song she had sang was meant for.

That was a Saturday, which meant no classes and relaxing. Unfortunately, something was getting in way of their relaxation.

Draco and Mara were having their weekend date, sitting outside near the lake, which was frostily sloshing up on the shore every minute or so. Harry was walking outside alone, what with Ron and Hermione in the common room still. Pretty much everyone else was inside, too. One girl must have been outside, too, though, because a shrill scream pierced the air. Harry ran toward the sound. Mara did too, automatically. Draco was unsure.

"Draco! She may be hurt. Or worse."

He remained silent, afraid of what may still be around the girl, if she was hurt.

Mara decided to go with the helpless girlfriend approach, as much as she hated it. "I'm going… but I wish you'd come with me… Who knows what's lurking on the grounds?"

Draco pulled in a deep breath and stood, with Mara leading the way. They saw Harry and ran with him. When they got to the obvious spot, they were all shocked. There was not only no girl, but the Quidditch field was filled with Death Eaters.

Mara and Harry's dreams flashed through their minds. Mara's matched perfectly. She was right in the middle of the two guys, both emotionally and physically. The only thing missing was the green light that seemed to accompany all her dreams lately.

Harry's dream had only one likeness, the Death Eaters. Unfortunately, for that still minute they all stared at each other and the horizon of hooded figures, all that ran through his mind was the dream… and kissing Mara. And that was not good, especially since her boyfriend was right there.

Mara was nervous, worried, and excited all at the same time. She looked anxiously at both Draco and Harry.

Harry was much like in the dream, his eyes glinting, looking toward the cloaked crowd. She noticed his jaw was clenched tightly. If he were any more tense, he'd be shaking. He was so… intense. So focused…

Draco was looking out upon the group, too. His eyes had taken on a cold color, and his eyes' expression was the same whenever he talked about his parents. Was his father or mother… a Death Eater?

Mara shook off the thought. It didn't matter. She pulled out her wand and took a deep breath before whispering, "Ready?" She looked at them both. They gave a slight nod. "Then let's go." The three of them raced onto the field, thoughts running through their minds.

For my parents… and my aunt, and my uncle—for my life they made into a lie—for the life I could have had—I will destroy them, was what ran through Mara's mind and a burning sensation filled her with every step she took.

Father… You never cared. All you ever cared about was your reputation… and him, Draco thought with disgust, his hatred of Voldemort and his father growing with each step.

Harry thought not in words… but pictures filled his mind. First he saw the smiling faces of his parents, then the twinkling grin of Dumbledore, and finally Mara, singing her song. Her dark blue eyes were bright with joy, but underneath laid a darkness he knew had to do with her decision… and being an orphan. The need to fight for them all, a lifting feeling, burned in him with each stride.