A/N: This chapter is probably not so fun, but I wanted to separate it from the next one. There will be one or two more chapters and an epilogue to this fic. Please review. I don't care if you talk about my story. You can tell me about your day, your love life, your dinner, your dog, something that annoys you. Anyway would be great, just a little hey there are people reading this story note. Much love and as always read, REVIEW, and enjoy.
The Gryffindors spent the next day saying goodbye. They didn't know that that was what they were doing, but they were. Individually, they went to their favorite places in the castle and stared at them, replaying the past in their head.
Ron went out onto the quidditch pitch and thought of his time as keeper for the Gryffindors. He kicked off the ground and flew around the pitch several times. He had quit the team as had Harry and Ginny. They could no longer play with their classmates. A few minutes later, he left and headed back into the castle.
Neville went to the greenhouses and did a few last chores for Professor Sprout. He smiled fondly as he listed the names of the various plants in his head. He remembered how excited he had been when he had discovered that he had a talent for growth.
Ginny went to the entrance of the Chamber of Secrets and sat there, staring at the tiny snake. She fueled her anger at Voldemort and her love of Harry. She went to the Entrance Hall and remembered walking into Hogwarts, her first day. She stood and relieved her joy at finally being allowed to follow her brothers.
Dean went out on the grounds, kicking a football and remembering the day he had taught his friends the sport. He watched an old game being played and remembered playing it at home with his muggle friends. He sat down on the ground and lost himself in thoughts of his years at school.
Seamus went to the Room of Requirement and thought of the DA meetings that had occurred last year. He remembered how good it felt to have others see him as more than comic relief. He left the room and wandered through the halls, explored every nook and cranny not sure if he would have the chance to do it again.
Draco sat in the Gryffindor common room. He thought of all his new friends and the happiness he had discovered this year. He replayed old conversations in his head and all the times he had just sat in Harry's arms.
Hermione walked into the Great Hall and in her mind it was covered in the decorations of the fourth year ball. She smiled as she recalled how she had felt when for the first time the school had seen her as more than a know-it-all. She laughed slightly as she thought of Ron's face when he had seen her.
Harry sat in his dorm and watched phantom images of all of his friends and the laughter they had shared. He remembered waking on his first Christmas with presents. He thought about his life now and how this room had become his home. He smiled as he thought of cuddling with Draco on his bed. He got up and walked out of the room.
Hermione and Ron met in the library. They took each other's hand. Both recognized the place as the beginning of their friendship. They had been in and out of the books more than anyone had. They stood as saw the new first years living the same lives they had.
Ginny and Neville met outside the quidditch lockers. It was the sight of their first kiss. They reenacted the memory.
Seamus and Dean met outside of the potions class. They had argued about the seriousness of their relationship there. Dean wanting Seamus to stop treating him like the boy he snogged when he was bored. They had developed a strong relationship after that day.
Draco and Harry met on the quidditch pitch where they had first argued and confessed their love for each other.
After a while, the couples met in the common room. They didn't talk until bed when a round of goodnights was murmured.
The next morning training began. The group was separated. Two people were trained as partners and had their lessons together. The partners became Ginny and Dean, Seamus and Ron, Hermione and Neville and Harry and Draco. Everyone was confused. Why had Harry and Draco remained a couple while the others had not? Harry answered the questions before anyone had the chance to ask it.
"Your partners were picked to suit your strengths. You will find you compliment one another. The other reason for the arrangement is so that in battle, you will not worry so extensively about your partner. While you will care, he or she will not be the person you hold closest to your heart. This will make it harder for you to be blinded while on the field. If your partner is injured, it will be easier to be rational and make the best decision if you are less clouded by love. I know it is hard for you to understand because you are still partnered with one of the people that you care most about, but trust me there is a difference, no matter how slight."
"Why are you paired with Draco?"
"Unfortunately, in our case, we compliment each other too well to separate. Our magic does not support any other person's and we would only weaken another partner. Draco is the only one strong enough to ground me and vice versa. Now, here is the schedule. Each lesson will be an hour and a half long, between lesson there will be a thirty minute break. Professor Dumbledore will tutor on wandless magic and DADA. He will teach groups in this order: 1, 2, 3, and 4. Professor Snape will teach potions and combat in this order: 2, 3, 4, and 1. Professor McGonagall will teach transfiguration and various other spells in this order: 3, 4, 1, and 2. Madame Pomphrey will teach healing magic in this order: 4, 1, 2, and 3. On the weekends there will be special training clinics. The first will be on apparition. We being at 9 and end at 5, however after dinner there may be further training or homework. I am so that this schedule is so intense, but we have less than one month to prepare. You have an hour until your first lesson begins. Thank you."
As so the days went by and the eight students found themselves immersed in training. They learned much defense, both magical and muggle. They brewed many potions for storage, many with healing purposes. They learned medical magic and wandless magic. They learned to apparate and to put up mind shields. The eight wizards became very talented, but no matter how the seven of them tried, Harry could not be beaten. He was skilled at everything and his friends began to see the power he had hidden so long. At times the air surrounding him sizzled with the force of his magic and his skill at blocking invasions into his mind and invading others without alerting them even amazed Snape. Five days before the attack, he announced that he would give his mark to any that wished it. Snape was the first to receive the mark and he was there to convince the others, not that they need to be convinced. They all trusted Harry and wanted the protection that he offered. He decided that the next day, he would mark them.
The first to walk into the room that Harry had chosen for the ceremony was Ginny.
"I must search for your loyalty, though I have no doubt, because any doubt you have in me will cause you pain. Though my mark is not meant to harm, it will protect me about all others and if you offer allegiance to another, it will not protect you."
Ginny sat quietly as Harry searched through her mind.
"Thank you, I am sorry to have invaded your privacy, but I want to protect you and this is the only way. Please give me your arm."
Ginny held out here arm and Harry placed a hand over it. He closed his eyes and muttered a long incantation under his breath. His hand glowed green for an instant. He then lifted his hand and shed one tear on the new mark on her skin. It blazed silver and Ginny looked down to see a lion with green eyes and a small lightening shaped scar on its forehead. She looked up and saw that Harry was softly glowing as well. She got up and kneeled at his feet.
"NO! I am not your master. I am your friend. I adopt this form and shape only to fulfill my purpose. Never forget that I am your friend and that that is what separates me from Voldemort. I will always be your friend and your equal, never your master."
Ginny got up and looked at Harry.
"Thanks, Harry."
"No problem, Gin."
Ginny smiled and left the room.
The process was repeated over and over with the same speeches from both parties and the same reassurances from Harry that he was not a master. The final person was of course, Draco.
"Harry, I open myself to you. Look for what you must, I know that you do this to save me."
Harry searched through Draco's mind and withdrew quietly.
"Thank you."
Draco held out his arm and Harry placed his hand over it. When he opened his eyes to shed his one tear, he ended up dropping several on the person he loved so much. He looked at the mark and started in surprise for the same lion that adorned the others was a small green snake. It was curled around the lion's front paw.
"It's different than the others."
"How?"
"There was no snake on the others. It must be the tears. The mark mixed our magic. It should only do that to soul mates."
"Well, then it should do that to us."
"Thank you, Dray."
"No need to thank me, this does as much for me as it does for you."
Draco pulled Harry into an embrace and rubbed soothing circles on his back.
"This has been draining for you, love."
"Sleep will be enough to restore it, my body will recharge using the strength of all those wearing the mark. I can't explain it, but it won't drain their magic at all, but will use it to rebuild mine. Anyway, let's go to bed, I'm sure the professors will understand."
The boys walked to the dorms, avoiding everyone they saw. Harry collapsed on the bed as soon as they reached it. He was almost asleep when Draco spoke.
"Harry, wait, you forgot our tradition."
"We have a tradition?"
"Yes, we always say goodnight."
"I didn't know that meant anything to you. I thought you were just messing with me last time."
"Well, it does."
"I love you."
"I love you, too."
"Goodnight, Dray."
"Goodnight, love."