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Disclaimer:
On the blast;
The souls left their earth-bound home, streaming heavenward,
Screaming in redemption:
HE DOES NOT OWN IT.
(not my best idea for a disclaimer but I thought I'd put that...)
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--Forgotten Rain--
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Chapter: 3
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"Give it a rest, Hermione!" Complained Ron as she began to quiz Ed for the 17th time. "He knows it, how come you keep insist he's cheating?"
"It took me a month to memorize this years books, how could he do all seven years and then some in such a small space of time?" Snapped Hermione at Ron.
"It sounds to me, Hermione," said Harry, "That you're jealous." At that comment Hermione turned a bright shade of pink and got up from the booth they were sitting in over lunch; mumbling something about needing a new quill. Harry and Ron both broke down laughing.
"I know it would happen someday." Said Ron laughing.
"I did too." Said Harry laughing even harder.
"What would happen?" Said Ed clueless, he might be rather intelligent but he was still useless in social situations.
"She would meet a kid who could memorize faster than she could." Said Ron and Harry together laughing their heads off.
"I don't see whats so funny." said Ed in a monotone; they laughed even harder.
"Well, lets go catch up to her," said Harry standing up. "Anything else you need to get?" he asked looking at Edward.
"No, I got everything already." said Ed standing up.
"You're wand to?" Inquired Ron.
"Yeah...I got that." Said Edward a grimace coming to his face at the memory of it.
"Well let us see it." Asked Harry.
"It's actually rather embarrassing..." Mumbled Ed trailing off.
"It can't be that bad!" Said Ron, "I had to use an old grimy wand that was falling apart for years!"
"It is." said Ed quickly.
"Let us see it or we'll have to hex you." Said Harry grinning.
"Fine." Said Ed pulling out his wand, it was 9 inches in length, it appeared to black, but when you looked at it right it turned a strong red, a blood red; the wood was wrapped in silver metal.
"I've never seen a wand like that," said Ron, "Whats it made out of?"
"Mr.Olivander said it was made out of 'blood wood', a wood created when a magical tree has killed over 1,000 people, it's wrapped in Admantium to contain the wood...from producing 'effects' he wouldn't elaborate more." Said Ed solumly, when he had been told this it had sickened him, he had immediately put it away.
"Whats the core made out of?" asked Harry his interest perked.
"It's even worse, do you still want to hear?" Asked Edward cautiously. That was when Hermione arrived, having come back to get them.
"That wand..." Said Hermione in wonder. "Called a 'Wand of Suffering' made from Blood-Wood and wrapped in a containing substance, the core is made out of the bone and blood of the last human the tree killed. Where did you ever get such a thing?" She inquired aggressively.
"From Mr.Olivander." Squeaked Edward.
"He sold you such a thing?" Asked Hermione. "He wouldn't even let me see it when I went in there to get my wand, he said 'It's a wand from a different place, and meant for one from such a place'." She said.
Edward put it away, "You saw it, are you happy now?" He asked sarcastically glaring at Harry and Ron.
"So," Said Hermione changing the subject quickly, "Why don't you take Edward and show him the Quidditch shop." She commanded pointing across the street to a shop Ed hadn't gone into before, seeing the brooms outside and in the shop windows he had assumed it was a cleaning shop.
"Whats 'Quidditch'?" Asked Ed curiously.
"It's the best sport ever!" Said Ron enthusiastically, "You play it on broom-sticks up in the air." a dreamy look coming to his face.
"Broom sticks?" Inquired Ed skeptically.
"Yeah we'll show you." Said Harry grinning.,
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"How dare you call me short!" Edward yelled at a boy nearly twice his size; the boy was in his 5th year.
"Midget!" The boy laughed as he knocked Ed over; Ed had had enough. Ed sprang up, catching the boy under the chin with his knee; the boy went flying backward, into a display of brooms. One of the boys friends tried to punch him; Ed blocked. Edward quickly 'educated' the boy in why you don't call him small. Just as he was about to punch out the third boy a stunner hit his back; he fell over knocked out.
"I don't mind you boys fighting," Said the store owner, "Just make sure to take it out in the street." He pointed out the door.
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"Wha' Happened?" Asked Ed groggily coming to his feet outside the store after the stunner had worn off.
"You were stunned." Said Hermione with a smug look on her face, "Thats what you get for fighting."
"Uh-huh." Nodded Edward not really paying attention to what she was saying.
"Ed, where did you learn to fight like that, you knocked them all out easily." Said Harry enthusiastically.
"Um...United States?" said Ed saying the first thing that came to mind.
"You've been to the US?" Asked Hermione excited. "My family and I are going there next summer, it sounds like a really fascinating place, what did you see? What did you do? I heard that the Salem Witch Trial tour for wizards is really fascinating." She said all this in one long sentence not allowing Edward to answer.
"Uh...yeah." was all Ed could say before she started talking again.
"Harry!" Yelled a two red-headed boys together running up to Harry and cutting Hermione off mid sentence.
"Hi George, Hi Fred." Said Harry waving. "This is Edward." He said as they walked up.
"Can't talk now..." Said Fred.
"Gotta get back to the shop..." Said George.
"Business is booming..." said Fred.
"Stop by later..." Said George.
"See you." They said as one and walked off.
"That was.." said Ron.
"Scary..." Finished Harry laughing.
'They're carefree' thought Ed. 'I fell like I'm contaminating them just being around them. All I've seen...All I've done. I've killed. They're still just innocent teens. I have no place here-' He was jerked out of his thoughts as Ron punched him in the shoulder.
"Earth to Ed." Said Ron. "You were looking kinda far-out there."
"You alright?" asked Harry concerned.
"Yeah, fine." said Edward hurriedly.
"It's getting late;" Said Hermione, "We should head back."
"Yeah." Edward agreed still slightly zoned out.
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"We'll see you On the tenth." Said Harry as he stepped into the fire and was gone.
'That was fun.' thought Edward to himself. 'But I really have no place here...They are just innocent teens, even with everything Harry has been through.' He sat down at the bar; Tom came over and asked what he wanted. Even though there were laws against underage drinking in this world Tom would make exceptions for him.
"Scotch on the rocks, please." Said Ed. Mustang had turned him onto drinking, and even though he didn't drink often, when he did he enjoyed the pleasant loss of thought and worry it carried in each sip.
"Here you go, Mr.Elric." Said Tom placing a drink in front of him, every time he saw this drink it reminded him of Colonel Mustang; you could always find a bottle of fine scotch under his desk. Edward remembered how Hawkeye, who always made Mustang follow the rules and procedure of the military, allowed him that pleasure.
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"Hermione," inquired Harry, "Where's your shoulder bag?"
"I must have left it back at the Leaky Cauldron, I'll floo back and get it." Hermione said getting up and searching in her pockets for her small bag of floo powder. "I must have left my floo powder in my bag. Harry, can I have some of yours?"
"Here." said Harry absentmindedly turning back to the game of wizards chess he was playing against Ron.
She walked to the fire place and tossed the floo powder in. "The Leaky Cauldron." She said calmly and clearly.
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She stepped out of the fire-place at the leaky cauldron. She looked around spotting Ed at the bar. 'What could Edward be doing over at the bar?' she thought to herself walking over to him. As she got closer she realized he was having a drink; an alcoholic one.
"Edward what are you doing?" She said annoyed. "You're not of age."
"I know, not according to your laws; where I come from though, there are no minimum drinking ages." said Ed calmly, amazed at how she could make him feel guilty. "Anyway why are you here, and where are Harry and Ron?"
"I forgot my bag." She said, a red tint coming to her face.
"Well, where is it then?" asked Edward.
"I don't know, " she snapped, "I was hoping you could help me find it."
"Oh..." said Edward. "No reason to get snappy with me though." he snapped back.
"No reason to get snappy with me!" Hermione yelled back at him. "And I don't want you help finding my bag either!" she snapped at him stalking off.
"Oh shit." said Edward taking one last sip of his drink before he left the bar to go after her. He entered the room with the 'magical' wall to Diagon Ally, entered the 'code' , and exited into Diagon Ally.
He saw her sitting on a bench with her bag sitting next to her; he walked up to her. As he approached he could hear her sobbing.
"Hermione I'm sor-" Ed started to say but was cut off by a harsh, sing-song voice behind them.
"Ahh my little bro," Said a wizard in a black robe coming out of the shadows, "always breaking womens hearts!" He said with a cruel sneer.
'It can't be' thought Ed as he sat there staring at the man who had now walked around to be in front of them.
"What don't you recognize me?" he said with mock-hurt. "It's me Envy, your older brother."
"You." Said Ed in a harsh whisper.
"Yes, 'you'" said Envy, "Sadly, I cannot kill you tonight as I am on a 'mission', so ta-ta" He waved and began to walk away.
Edward jumped up and charged Envy, swinging with his right arm intending to knock him out. Envy side-stepped and spun hitting Ed in the back of the head with his foot. Edward went down hard but was quickly on his feet again, he charged Envy once again this time landing his punch which sent Envy flying backward.
"Now thats not nice, brother." Said Envy getting to his feet. "I might not be able to kill you, as he told me not to kill anyone but the target; but he didn't say anything about torture." Envy pulled out his wand and began to grin, "CRUCIO!" He yelled.
Ed fell over in pain, then began to stand up. "This is nothing compared to the pain my brother goes through every day of his life." He said his teeth firmly pressed together as he fell to one knee.
That was when Hermione chose to intervene, having calmed herself down enough to think. "Stupify!" She yelled pointing her wand to Envy as a red stream of light shot out of it.
Envy cut off his curse, quickly spinning around; "Protege!" he snarled erecting a shield around himself which easily counter-acted the stunning spell.
"Ahh, two on one, thats not fair." as he said this he apperated away with a loud 'pop'.
"Ed, are you alright?" Inquired Hermione walking over to; and kneeling down next to Ed.
"Yeah...Fine..." Grunted Edward standing up carefully.
"Who was that guy?" asked Hermione. "Do you know him?"
"He's the guy who attacked Harry and I, and yes I know him in a way..." He said trailing off.
"He called you brother...is he...?" Asked Hermione tentatively trailing off as she did so.
"NO." Said Edward firmly. "Anyway, it's getting late you should get back." He said walking in the opposite direction then that of the Leaky Cauldron. "Also, don't use anymore magic, the Ministy can't track it in such a overly magical area, but it's still not a good idea."
"And where are you going?" asked Hermione Indignantly, "You can't expect for me to just leave you out here, alone?"
"Thats exactly what I expect you to do." Said Ed firmly.
"Well I'm not going to." Hermione said as she walked after him.
"Fine, I guess I have to go back now." Said Edward looking furtively over his shoulder, looking as if he wanted to go chasing after the man; even though he had no way to chase him.
"Hey, Ed." said Hermione as they were walking back to the Leaky Cauldron.
"Yeah?" Edward inquired.
"Are you sure you're okay, that was the cruciatos curse...people normally aren't the same after that." She said quietly.
"I've felt worse." He stated not as if he was bragging but as if it were just a fact. 'Yeah,' though Ed. 'Much worse, dying is much worse.' Hermione shot him a strange look as he said this but let it drop.
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When they arrived back at the Leaky Cauldron, they were shocked to find that the fire was out and the main bar-room was crowded with Aurors.
Tom gestured for them to come into the room. One of the Aurors turned to them as they entered.
"Where have you two been?" He asked in a rather hurried and annoyed tone.
"We were just out for a walk." Said Hermione hurriedly thinking on her feet.
"Lovers, eah?" the Auror asked, bringing a blush to Hermione and Eds faces. "I guess that checks out, but what are you doing out this late, and don't you know that the Minister of Magic has just been assassinated."
"How?" Edward asked.
"We're not allowed to tell the public yet." The Auror replied. "Now as god only knows what you were up to on that 'walk', get up into your rooms or room." He said grinning. Ed growled as he stalked up the steps with Hermione in tow.
They entered Edwards room, which was as per usual, arranged in 'ordered' clutter. Hermione gasped as she saw all the books strewn about haphazardly.
"You got this?" Hermione said amazed pointed to one of the Ministry restricted books. "And this?" she said pointing to another one.
"What are you doing?" said Ed sitting down in one of the chairs by the fire place which was currently out and dis-connected from the floo network.
"Sharing your room." Said Hermione looking at him as if he was an idiot. "The sign says 'No Vacancy'"
"Oh, and where are you going to sleep?" Asked Ed mockingly.
"In the bed, of course." said Hermione.
"But..but...we..I mean I..." Spluttered Ed, "I-I'll sleep on the floor."
Hermione grinned as if she was expecting him to say that.
"You just tricked me into letting you use the bed, didn't you?" asked Edward amused.
"Maybe." said Hermine still grinning not bothering to undress as she slid underneath the covers of the bed.
Ed sighed as he got up; went over to the closet; grabbed a pillow and blanket, then sat down on the floor to go to sleep. The room magically dimmed as it 'sensed' the patrons slipping into the abyss of sleep.
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"Ed, wake up." Said Hermione grog illy opening her eyes to find that Edward was already up, and gone. She got up went over to the door, then realizing what she must look like dressed in her robes from the day before, she cast a 'freshening' charm on herself. She exited the room and headed down the steps to the main dining room. When she entered the dining room she was surprised to see Edward in a rather heated discussion with some wizards dressed in strange robes with even stranger runes that resembled pentagrams drawn on them.
"Alchemy must follow that laws of equivalent exchange!" Yelled Ed slamming his fist down on the table.
"It does not!" Yelled another man, that appeared to be the leader of the group. "It is just a very advanced form of magic that allows the caster to modify or create and object he would not normally be able to. Even myself, who is very powerful, can only do the most basic things with alchemy; though it is said that the masters could bring some one back from the dead."
"Bringing the dead back is impossible, and even when it isn't it's not worth it." Said Edward cryptically "And my time isn't worth bothering with you." he said turning away from the man, only to walk straight into Hermione. At the exact moment Edward and Hermione went crashing to the ground in a rather 'awkward' position, Ron and then Harry appeared in the fire place.
"Get the hell off of her!" Roared Ron running over and dragging Ed off of Hermione, missing that fact that if anything was actually happening, the people in this crowded bar / restaurant surely would have helped.
"Ron you idiot." Hermione laughed as a rather shaken Ed tried to fend off Ron, who seemed intent upon killing him.
"Um, Hermione." Said Harry, "Hate to interrupt your laugh, but could you tell Ron that every things okay before he kills Ed?"
"Ron stop it." Yelled Hermione, "Everything is alright."
"But I saw this little bugger trying to do something to you!" He yelled back.
"Ron, he wasn't trying to do anything, now put down that chair." She said as Ron, looking rather disappointed, put down that chair he was about to toss at Ed.
"Now why didn't you come back last night?" asked Harry looking between Hermione and Ed. "Did something happen? And I don't mean something like that." He said at the murderous look on Ron's face.
"We'd better get a booth." Said Edward gesturing towards a near-by booth.
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"So you think that the same guy that attacked Edward and myself killed the Minister of Magic?" Asked Harry quietly.
"Yeah," Said Edward. "He said he wasn't allowed to kill anyone but his 'target', and since the Minister was killed last night, who else could it have been?"
"It could have been any agent of Voldemort." Harry said looking worried. "Whoever it was I still think I should tell Dumbledore about this." he trailed off.
"Well, to lighten the mood, why don't we go to the twins store?" Asked Ron looking enthusiastic.
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"Duck!" yelled Fred to the quartet as they entered the store; Ed immediately dropped to the ground as the other three began to laugh at the magically enchanted toy duck.
"How's business?" asked Harry still laughing slightly.
"Great." Said George pointing around at the shop stuffed full of patrons. "We aren't getting many today , because of what happened last night." he said quietly.
"You mean this is less then you usually get?" Asked Ron in utter and complete amazement.
"Yeah," said Fred.
"The crowd is." said George.
"Usually out in," Said Fred.
"The Street." said George grinning.
"By the way, Harry." Said Fred.
"We have something for you." said George handing him a piece of parchment.
Harry looked at the parchment, according to it he now owned one third of W.W.W.
"I can't accept." said Harry trying to hand back the parchment.
"Don't make us hex you." said Fred with a grin turning back to the customers.
"Ron, put that down!" Yelled George to Ron who was being lifted off the ground by some enchanted machine; he hurried off to help Ron.
As Edward looked around the shop he decided that this was the strangest shop he had seen since arriving in the wizarding world. Along the walls were shelves of everything imaginable, from wands that turned into objects or verbally abused those that tried to use them; to enchanted toy mice that would chew holes in the socks of your enemies. It seemed that despite the help of Fred, George and Harry the machine was refusing to release Ron; Edward went to help.
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Ed and Harry couldn't stop laughing; despite Ron being their brother he was still banned from the store. The only way they had been able to free him was through using a curse to destroy the machine which was a 'One of a Kind Theft Deterrent by W.W.W' that they were trying to sell for 1,500 Galleons. Needless to say, Fred and George were not happy with Ron.
"Harry, Ron, we need to get back it's quarter of twelve and you told me we had to be back by eleven; Mrs.Weasly probably sick with worry." Said Hermione hurriedly.
"See you in two days!" shouted Harry to Ed as he ran after her.
"See you!" shouted Edward after them.
Edward began his walk back to the Leaky Cauldron thinking how much fun he had had with them today. He still felt as if his presence contaminated these young and innocent teen-agers. With all he had seen and done. He doubted if any of them, excluding Harry, had ever even hurt some one intentionally. He had seen things none of them could even imagine he had killed before, and he had been killed. 'Thats it,' He decided, 'Once we get to school I'll distance myself from them.'
When he got back to his room in the Leaky Cauldron he found a letter waiting for him on his bed. Upon closer inspection, he discovered it contained a train ticket for "The Hogwarts Express" which he was supposed to board at Platform nine-and-three-quarters, at Kings-Cross Station.
'How am I supposed to get there?' thought Ed to himself. 'I guess I could take one of those 'Taxi' things that go by on the Muggle side of the Leaky Cauldron.'
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'Shit' thought Ed as he realized he had overslept for the second day in a row. He began to throw things haphazardly into his trunk; after he had finished his 'packing' he forced it closed and dragged it down stairs, nodding to the bartender, Tom, on his way out.
He quickly hailed a cab. To say the least, the Cab driver was not overly pleased at having to load this heavy trunk into his cab. After they finally got under way they arrived at Kings-Cross Shortly.
He looked around, not spotting any platform labeled 9 ¾, much to his annoyance at these wizards. He asked one of the ticket inspectors if they knew where it was. The ticket inspector told him to get lost.
Finally, he spotted Harry. Walking over to him he saw whom he supposed must be Ron's younger sister walking through the wall between platforms 9 and 10.
"Hi, Harry." said Edward walking up to him. "Would you mind telling me where platform nine and three quarters is?"
"Sure, just make sure no muggles are watching then walk straight through that wall right there." Harry directed pointing at the wall between platforms nine and ten.
"Harry, is this your new friend?" Asked a rather large women walking up to them, she eyed Edward with a look of distrust.
"Yes, Mrs.Weasly, this is Ed." Said Harry gesturing towards Edward. "And, Ed this is Mrs.Weasly."
"Hello," Said Ed to the Mrs.Weasly who still eyed him with distrust, "How do you do?"
"Good, now I don't want anything like what happened a few days ago happening again." She said coldly. "I think of Harry and Hermione as if they were my own children-" she was cut off by an "aww mom stop scaring him." From Ron.
"I'm only saying that it's not appropriate for Him and Hermione to share a bedroom, so don't 'aww mom' me." she said looking at Ron as if she would love to punish him right now. "Now get going or you'll be late she said pointing towards the barrier.
Edward went through the barrier, only to be greeted with Malfoy looking at him. A look of pure hatred contorting his face. Edward went to walk passed him, but was stopped when Malfoy stepped in front of him.
"Where do you think you're going, midget!" Snarled Malfoy pulling pulling out his wand.
Ed didn't wait, by the time Malfoy had his wand fully out, he already had Eds fist in his stomach. Malfoy grunted at the impact and fell to the ground wheezing. Crabbe and Goyle who looked as if they were going to attack at first backed off.
"Bloody awesome." said Ron to Edward as they got onto the train.
Hermione muttered something about "Boys and violence" as she stepped past them on the train.
"Hermione and myself," Said Ron, "Will go to the prefects compartment, You and Ed go find a compartment." he suggested looking at Harry.
"Come on Ed, we don't want to get in trouble." He said walking past Ron grinning.
After looking around the train for a while they found a compartment with only two occupants.
"Hey, Luna, Neville." said Harry nodding to each of them as he entered the compartment, "Mind if we share?"
"No not at all" said the boy to Edwards right who he assumed must be Neville. The girl made some sound which he assumed must be a yes. As he sat down he noticed that she was reading her magazine upside down.
"This is Ed." said Harry gesturing to Edward.
"Hi." said the Neville timidly. The girl made that sound again.
"Hi." Grunted Ed fascinated that no one said anything to the girl about reading the magazine upside down.
"Harry," said Luna, finally tearing herself away from the magazine, "Are you going to continue the DA this year?"
"I dunno, haven't thought about it that much yet." Said a rather surprised Harry.
"Whats the DA?" Interjected Edward.
"It's a defense against the Dark Arts club Harry started last year." Said Neville. "It was a lot of fun and we all learned a lot."
There was silence in the compartment for a while until the same red-headed girl Ed had seen going through the barrier came in and asked if she could share with them. She introduced herself to him as Ginny Weasly. Harry and Ginny got into a discussion over Quidditch as Harry was the Quidditch captain and she was on the team.
Ed picked up his useless book on Alchemy and started to look through it, intending to read it for a good laugh at the writers stupidity. After about five minutes of reading Hermione and Ron entered the compartment.
Hermione gasped upon seeing the book in Edwards hands. "You have that? You must let me read it!" she squealed tearing the book out of his hands. "At Florish and Blots they wouldn't even let me touch it!" She immediately sat down and began to read.
"See," said Ron to Harry, "I told you he was going to be just as bad as her, reading all the time. He even has a book she hasn't read!" Harry grinned as Ron said this.
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The Train suddenly screeched to a halt throwing them all forward.
"What was that?" inquired Hermione propping herself up on her elbows.
"I Don't know Hermione, but could you please remove your elbow from my stomach?" Inquired Ed sarcastically.
"Sorry Ed!" said Hermione getting up, and off of Ed.
"Lets go check it out!" said Harry enthusiastically. "Edward and I will go towards the front of the train, the rest of you go towards the back." Harry commanded.
Harry and Edward slowly crept forward, they could hear Students scream as the lights suddenly went out. They continued forward, Harry lighting his wand with the lumos spell.
Suddenly the train went dark. Cold flowed around them, the cold felt as if it had some malignant intelligence directing it and searching for week points in their clothes. That was when they saw them.
"Dementors," Harry whispered, pulling out his wand. Ed did the same.
Ed whispered "Expecto Patronum," But he only succeeded in producing a white wisp of magic.
Harry started to clearly say the spell but was cut off as a large animal that looked like a cross between a dog and a cat jumped up and knocked the wand out of his hand.
"Chimera." Edward said in a hoarse whisper. He lunged at it; both of them tumbling to the floor.
Harry scrambled to reclaim his wand but the scuffle between Edward and the creature had knocked it farther away. He was just about to reclaim it but the Dementors were upon them.
Edward passed out, images passing quickly through his head, the failed transmutation, his brother losing his body. The memory of losing both his leg and arm. The images on the other side of the gate, his death, and more much more, too much. He passed out but even unconscious offered no safe haven for him as he just continued to relive them.
Harry knew they were done for. He could see the Dementor had Ed in it's slimy hands, and was about to administer it's 'kiss'. Suddenly a patronus flared, knocking the Dementor back, it began to round up the rest of them, slowly chasing them off. Harry saw that the Patronus was a Beaver, making it Hermiones. He was glad she had arrived when she did.
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A/N: Sorry gotta end it there...hope you like it this is my longest chapter yet. Right now I'm leaning towards a Edward/Hermione relationship... a Ron/OFC and Harry/Tonks or Ginny, tell me if this is okay or what pairings you guys want. Also sorry for the long update wait. One more thing do you want a lot of updates or less updates but longer chapters? Jus' Wondering. Please R&R. Again my longest Chapter ever, exactly 5,003 words! Also, Please tell me about any Spelling Errors.
EDIT AFTER UPLOAD
Sorry for the long wait...REALLY SORRY this was done two weeks ago...my internet wasn't allowing me to get on and I was to lazy to fix it...