A/N: revamped and reedited
-----CHAPTER TEN-----
Brenna eventually found Harry in one of the halls, pacing back and forth along the floor. Brenna confronted him and thanked him, but was honest when she didn't expect him to do anything so soon.
"You were right, though," Harry said; "We shouldn't wait. We need to act now. That's the only way we can solve these sorts of things…"
"War, 'Arry?" Brenna asked, making sure she understood.
Harry nodded; "Listen, it's seven-thirty now. Why don't I take you up to the Common Room, and get you situated?"
"We can do that later, can't we?" Brenna asked; "I wanna see thess place…" she looked around then, curiosity evident.
Harry smiled; "Okay," he said, taking her hand; "Well, best start here. This is where the trophies are kept. See that one there? That's my dad's name…"
- - -
The tour was languid and well appreciated, Harry happy he was able to share the common knowledge with Brenna. They worked their way up to the seventh floor, rushed due to lack of time.
Finally, the large door of the Room of Requirement loomed in the distance, and Harry paused to look at Brenna; "You going to be okay?" he asked her, concerned.
Brenna gave him a small smile; "Aye," she said; "Ah well be. Let's go, a'ight?"
Harry nodded, and sighed before he
The room quieted as Harry stepped in, followed by Brenna who shut the door behind them. More had shown than before, though the same were there. Harry was concerned by this. He knew he had been too vocal about it all, but really… he didn't let the crowd bother him as he made his way to stand on a sturdy stack of books, making sure all could see and hear what he was about to say.
"I'm glad you all came tonight," he began; "I know how it gets settling back into someplace, but the reason for this meeting was urgent and needed. Tonight, not a few hours ago, the Death Eaters attacked a group of Activists," gasps flew from the crowd, and he paused until silenced reined; "You will not read about this in tomorrow's paper, because it happened at the Ministry… They only added four more victims to their list, along with several of our own…" he paused, briefly remembering Angelina; "People, we cannot tolerate this any more.
"Voldemort—" So many recoiled and reacted to the name, Harry regretted it; "Sorry. You-Know-Who is becoming more vocal, more prominent. He's rallying forces the Light will have trouble contending with. He'll have vampires, ogres, giants, werewolves… you name it, he'll have at least one, of that I'm sure.
"He's destroyed far more than either you or I could ever imagine," Harry said, then, he looked at Brenna; "More than we could fathom, or hope to gather why," he looked at the crowd; "Cultures are crumbling and disappearing because of that… that Man! No, not man, beast! That thing that haunts us day and night!"
"But we have the necessity and the ability to stop Him. We are the future, am I right? We will be left after this war is finished. This was once my father's battle, a battle he lost…" he paused; "And I don't plan on having my children suffering! I cannot rest because the future is so bleak right now! Yes, you heard me, BLEAK!"
It seemed they were so shocked that he, Harry Potter, admitted their weakness. OF course everyone had a thought, possibly knew, that the threat was real and far larger than they were told.
"I am only human," Harry said, willing his shoulders not to slack; "I will need help, you will need help. That is why this organization was formed, to help. Not for me, nor for yourselves…"
"And if not for us, who then?" Seamus called from the crowd.
Harry smirked, knowing the Irishman's plan. Harry threw his fist up; "FIGHT FOR YOUR LIVELY HOOD!" he shouted.
Seamus through his fist up as well; "FOR YOUR WOMEN!"
"FOR FREEDOM!" Justin Flench-Fletchley hollered.
"AND HONOR!" a girl cried.
"FOR YOUR CHILDREN!" Ron shouted suddenly, throwing his fist up.
"AND FOR YOUR COUNTRY!" Seamus finished, pulling his fist to his chest, not averting his gaze from the stare he had matched with Harry's. Harry did the same, and then Seamus smiled.
Throwing his fist up, he whooped and screamed "OLAY!"
The rest of the students, lifted by the show of defiance against tyranny, all threw up their fists and cried out "OLAY!"
Harry laughed and clapped, as suddenly they were full of vestige and celebration, want for the future to come where they could prove their worth. From his post, he saw Brenna staring at him with a small, grateful smile. He relaxed, smiling back at her. Then, his gaze was moved when he heard the crowd's volume shift in his direction.
Shouts rose like thunder from the crowd, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione were all beaming. But as Ron's eyes roved the crowd, he saw a few unsure faces; "WAIT!" he said, loudly enough to where the shouts died down; "Someone's here that shouldn't be!" his eyes widened; "Green Robes in the back! Dean, Seamus, Michael, get them!" Ron dived in himself, taking the first culprit down.
In a flash, two Slytherins were thrown forward, both fourth year boys. Dean, Seamus, and the boy, Michael, from Ravenclaw, walked up and lifted them to their feet and pushed them up to Harry. Harry got down, seeing Brenna move through the crowd with worry etched on her features.
"Brenna?" he asked quietly, the single word speaking a simple question.
Brenna came to his side, and watched the boy. She studied him for an agonizing minute or so, silencing choking all who were witness. Briefly, she whispered something and touched each boy's forehead. In a flash, both Slytherins were on the ground, on their knees, clutching their heads. The crowd back away as they began changing shape and their complete look.
Polyjuice Potion.
What came from the boys were one relatively slight girl and another boy with broad shoulders. Both lifted their heads, and Harry suppressed a gasp by remaining tall and silent. Blaise Zambini, and Pansy Parkinson.
"Zambini!" Ron growled, and the crowd suddenly got deathly closer.
"Back up!" Hermione said loudly, and the body of people moved back one step; "Hoist them up please, Dean, Seamus," the Gryffindors did as told.
"Accio wands," Harry said, holding out his hand. Pansy and Blaise's wands flew from the pockets, and Harry caught them. He couldn't help but smirk at a glowering Pansy.
"Just wait, Potter!" she said shrilly, "We know where you all meet now, only a matter of time!"
"So?" Hermione interjected; "Everybody knows! Boy, for the 'Gossip Snake' you sure are clueless, aren't you?"
Pansy hissed at her; "I wouldn't talk, Mudblood," she sneered; "Why don't you just go fuck the weasel?"
"Shut up, you sniveling bitch!" Ron roared, lunging. Thankfully, Seamus and Dean held him back; "Don't you call her that!" Ron roared.
The crowd grew rambunctious then at the name, and shouts of punishments rang on high. Harry finally yelled; "BE QUIET!" and everyone hushed, though murmurs floated like the breeze.
"I say we wipe their memory, just in case," Ginny said, walking over.
Brenna shook her head, and looked at Blaise. Blaise was busy looking around, but froze when his gaze met Brenna's icy stare. Anger, loss, and pain so deep it was dark showed in the beautiful hazel-brown eyes, and Blaise shivered. The past caught up to him in a flash, all thanks to his father.
"We can do this the easy way," Harry said, "Or the hard way."
"VOTE! VOTE!" Zacharias chanted, throwing his fist up with each word.
"Well, we canna deny the crowd," Brenna mused, sitting on the stack of books as Harry smiled slightly. She crossed her legs and stared as Blaise looked up at her. He quickly averted his gaze from her cold, pain-filled one.
"Then it's settled," Harry said mostly to himself, and to the crowd, "What to we do about this?"
"Or do we have some fun?" Seamus added loudly, throwing his fist in the air with a wicked grin. "OLAY!" he cried, and several replied with the same chant.
Harry would not have this become a slaughter, but he wated as the room erupted in response. Hermione jumped onto the stand and shouted "QUIET!"
Everyone stilled to look up at her; "WE can't be heard! Filch will have us all!" this brought complete silence; "Let's be civil, we are not raging animals! By a show of hands, who says we should clear their memory, and let them run?"
A little over half, most after Harry had. Hermione nodded as she got down; "And all you others decided on having 'fun'?" Harry asked.
Silently, the rest raised their hands. Harry sighed; "By doing that, are we any better?" he asked.
Brenna rested her hand on Blaise's shoulder, and bent down beside him; "Why are you here, Zambini?" she whispered icily, the surname a curse on her tongue.
Blaise was rigid; "Snooping," he replied shortly.
Brenna shook her head; "why?" she asked, voice soft, patient, an oxymoron to the fire in her eyes.
Blaise sighed; "Draco told us of the DA, how you all met in here. He said he overheard you all over the summer, what ever he was doing around –you- is anybody's guess..."
"Watch it," Ron and Harry said in unison, and Blaise's shoulders shrugged.
But he would not relent; "He sent us to spy on you," he replied in the same tone, glaring at Ron; "We had to, do you know how powerful Lucius is? We have to obey Draco now... he rules Slytherin..."
"Figures, the prick," Ron muttered.
Harry was quiet, and Brenna said, "'Mione, the verdict?"
"Wipe their minds, drop them in the dungeons," Hermione, holding up two vials filled with purple liquid.
"Hold them!" Harry said when Pansy tried to bolt. The sixth and seventh year boys closest took Blaise, while the girls closest held Pansy. Pansy was ready to fight tooth and nail, so Ginny stunned her. Dean ended up stunning Blaise as well, even though the Slytherin boy didn't put up a fight it was for good measure. Hermione and Harry administered the potions, and then Harry faced the crowd.
"Who's old enough to Apparate?" he asked. He knew that to Apparate was impossible in Hogwarts; he just wanted older hands to settle this matter.
Three hands went into the air, two Hufflepuffs and a Ravenclaw; "Take them, please," Harry said as they moved forward; "One at a time, if you must. Drop them just outside the common room."
The three nodded, and took Pansy first. Seconds later they took Blaise, and the room was quiet.
"That will wipe their memory, correct?" a third year Ravenclaw piped.
"Yes," Hermione said, gesturing to a cabinet; "We came ready."
Ron finally glanced at the clock on the wall; "Blimey, Harry it's nearly eleven!" he exclaimed.
Harry looked at the clock, "shit," he muttered; "Okay, it's nearly curfew. Lucky us this is near every tower. Bolt out in threes and fours, and be careful!"
"When's the next meeting?" someone asked.
"Whenever we send out notices!" Hermione said as she went and opened the door slowly. She peered out, then opened it all the way; "Okay, see you all again!"
Ron and Hermione left after the last batch of second years, leaving Harry and Brenna alone in the Room; "'Arry, that was… amazing," Brenna said; "Teh way ya 'andled 'em all!"
Harry smiled and ran a hand through his hair; "Thanks," he said; "But I was scared to death!"
Brenna laughed; "Y' were the best, 'Arry," she said.
"Well, hearing that from you makes it all worthwhile," Harry said quietly, before he could stop it.
Brenna blushed; "Well," she said, but then her eyes saw the wands; "'Arry, what're ya gonna do 'bout the wands? Won't Blaise an' Pansy need 'em?"
Harry smiled; "Blaise, yeah, but Pansy," he looked at the wand and shook his head; "A few days wouldn't hurt her. Consider it revenge for Hermione. And, they won't know where they left them," he added as he put them in his robes; "You seemed upset when Blaise told us why they were here though. Why?"
Brenna looked away; "Ah misjudged, I was wrong," she said simply, looking back at him.
"Draco's a git, Brenna, a Malfoy Git," Harry replied; "Always has been, always will be. That's the way of a Snake."
Brenna nodded; "Suppose ya right, but still," she paused; "Ah dunno, 'Arry, Ah jus' dunno..."
"Don't think on it," Harry said; "Just be happy, okay?"
Brenna smiled when he did; "Ya really enjoy it, don't ya?" she asked.
"We don't have Defense Against the Dark Arts anymore," Harry said, "It has to be done, and we know a lot, Ron, Hermione, you and I. Together, we'll get the DA in shape for Voldemort."
Brenna smiled; "Yeah," she said, "An' Ah get revenge," she added grimly as she looked away.
"How long ago since, the last person you knew died, Brenna?" Harry asked quietly as they mounted the final flight of stairs.
Brenna simply held up two fingers, and Harry nodded; "I'm sorry," he said.
"Thanks," Brenna said, "Buh, tha past es tha past. We learn from et, then move on. That's what they tell meh, anyway..."
Brenna's hand was now over the one Harry had on her waist, her other holding to Harry's arm. Harry enjoyed having her beside him, the comfort of another body's warmth reminded him of living when his head swam in a pool of grief and death.
After saying the password, Harry and Brenna walked into the common room to find it empty, save for one couple in the corner; "Look," Harry whispered, motioning to them. Brenna looked.
Ron and Hermione were cuddling on the couch, both asleep. Harry took Brenna's hand, and led her to the couch by the fire. They discarded the heavy robes, and the clothes landed on a chair back. The two sat down together, and Harry pulled a grateful Brenna into his arms. He sighed when she did, and kissed her forehead as he leaned back.
Brenna looked at him; "'Arry…" she said quietly.
"What?" Harry asked in a soft, gentle whisper, sitting up on his elbow with Brenna lying halfway atop him.
Brenna averted her gaze; "What if... Ah was ta say tha'... well, maybe..." she sighed, and closed her eyes briefly before looking at him; "How kin ya tell if... if ya safe?"
Harry stared at her, eyes widening in surprise; "If you're safe?" he repeated; "Brenna, why would you ask that?"
A familiar emotion flashed through her eyes, and Harry gazed at her worriedly, seeing her eyes water with emotion, and tears. He glanced at the fire, then questioningly at Brenna again.
Brenna nodded, looking away; "When you're safe," Harry said; "You feel content. You feel, satisfied in a way. You feel calm... You..." he paused; "You feel that you're being taken care of..."
Brenna looked at him; "Ah wish et were so," she whispered vaguely; "Ah canna r'member the las' time…"
"I could show you," Harry said, "That you should feel safe here..."
"How?" Brenna asked, looking at him steadily.
Harry kissed her, and after the quick shock and surprise, Brenna closed her eyes. And he rolled over so he was above her. Hands on her waist, his tongue graced against her lips, asking for passage. Brenna parted her lips slightly. Harry's tongue gently entered her mouth, feeling her tongue and her teeth. Brenna replied tentatively, and Harry smiled slightly as he thought so innocent...
The feeling he felt when Brenna kissed his scar returned, this time flooding all through his body and mind. Harry felt awash with the sense, and was desperate for more. There was a spark, muted but there as they kissed. Brenna was feeling it too, she at first went rigid, then immediately went flaccid. Harry fought the feeling to go limp as well, and decided to step further down the road, so to speak...
Harry's hand traveled slowly to her stomach, his other coming up and cupping around the back of her head as they continued to kiss passionate and oblivious to their surroundings. He tentatively played with the lowest button, and Brenna's breath hitched as he slowly pulled the shirt out. Harry slid a hand along her flat stomach, fingers tracing around her navel. Brenna let out a sigh, running her hands through Harry's raven hair.
Harry drew a quick breath when Brenna did, and continued to ravish her mouth. He bit her bottom lip lightly, causing Brenna to gasp quietly. Harry looked at her. Brenna's cheeks were flushed, her mouth partly open as she sighed, her long eyelashes brushing against them with her eyes closed. Harry wanted her badly, but knew going to far would cause a giant uproar. He continued to kiss her neck, his hand wrapping around to run along her spine.
Brenna gasped, arching her back. Harry had braced a knee on the couch with his other foot planted on the floor, and her knee brushed against his inner thigh. Harry paused for a split second as he felt a shiver, and his hand left her hair to run down her side. He continued kissing her already swollen lips, his own reaching past that point.
As Harry continued his ministrations, he could feel heat rising from his stomach. He suppressed a groan, and regretfully pulled away. Brenna's eyes fluttered open, and she gasped quietly as she looked at him. Her eyes seemed to have brightened in color and tone. She sighed, and smiled up at Harry.
Harry smiled; "Did you feel it?" He asked quietly, taking his hand from her skin and his other cradling her head.
Brenna closed her eyes and smiled slightly; "Yeah," she whispered, opening her eyes half-hooded to gaze at Harry; "Et's amazing... es thess wha' always 'appens?"
"Sometimes," Harry said, "In any case, it's a really, really good thing..."
Brenna averted her gaze as she thought, a habit Harry found slightly annoying. If he couldn't see her eyes, he couldn't tell what she was feeling, or what she could possibly be thinking. Finally, she looked at him again.
Harry kissed her forehead; "I think I love you," he breathed as he drew back.
Brenna looked at him, as if studying his very soul. She smiled, and closed her eyes; "Love me..." she mused; "Ah love you too, Harry," she said, "Ah know Ah do..."
Harry smiled, seeing her eyes brighten with happiness; "Um, it's late," he said, glancing at a clock and seeing it was well past midnight. He got up, pulling Brenna to her feet as he did. She swayed and laughed quietly as Harry chuckled and caught her; "We should... go to bed," Harry said softly.
Brenna nodded; "Ah asked fah a room here, in the Tower," she said.
"Come on, we'll see where it is," Harry said, taking her hand and walking quietly to the steps. Ron and Hermione were still in each other's arms, and the two quietly snuck past them. Harry and Brenna began walking up the steps, pausing as they got halfway and saw a door between the Prefects's. On it was a plaque with a raven perched on a log. It moved its head to face the two.
"Who are thee?" it asked.
Harry knew it was a guard or ward of McGonagall's; "Harry Potter and Brenna McBennitae;" he replied.
"Is this my room?" Brenna asked.
The raven nodded; "Aye," it said; "But first, thy must answer my query.'What lies deep within and cannot be seen, cannot be touched, nor taken, but is there for hearts to yearn and souls to seek? Answer this, in Montogneh," it added, the last word falling on Harry's ears like gibberish.
Brenna chewed her bottom lip; "Any idea?" she asked, looking at Harry.
"No," Harry said, shaking his head.
Brenna stared at the raven; "lilingani," she replied finally.
The raven nodded, and they heard a click. The door opened slowly, and Brenna and Harry gasped. It was a magnificent chamber, with a fireplace and couch, desk, and a small spiral staircase to a loft was where the bed was. The bed itself had covers draping over the edge, and a small railing was all that kept it from falling off. There were shelves around three sides of it, filled with little statuettes and books of all sizes and forms.
There was a door leading to a closet, and another leading to the bathroom. The sitting area was two steps down into an alcove in the center of the room, the fireplace being against the wall. The desk was actually a large table with shelves around and supporting it, with three chairs around it. There was a small little bench made of cloud cushions (like those in Trelawney's classroom) that levitated by the window, the drapes drawn back to reveal a beautiful view of the lake.
There was a statue of a lion sitting on one of the shelves, the Griffindor crest around its neck. A raven that was halfway out of the wall, wings half through and feathers spread, that bared the family seal of three rings entwined in ivy. There was also a Badge and surprisingly snake tile designs in the floor, along with the other two House animals.
The room was a mixture of warm, gold, red, and maroons, and several neutral colors. There was a table in the corner, where decorations were put and also parchments and documents. Brenna and Harry had stepped in, gaping. The ceiling was like the night sky, the stars twinkling. Harry smiled as he walked to the door, and yawned.
"I'm going to go to bed," he said.
Brenna turned and ran back to him. She embraced Harry and kissed him briefly, and said; "G'night, Harry," as she drew back.
Harry smiled, and walked up the boys' staircase to the forth door where he was roomed. Brenna watched as he opened the door, and their eyes met, and both stared before Harry finally entered his room. Sighing longingly, Brenna went into her room.
As her door shut, the Raven Plaque shook in silent mirth.