Harry Potter and the Curse of V'Ardian
Chapter 37
Of Feelings and Finality
Standard Disclaimers Apply
Kali09 – thanks for the review. Unfortunately…I'm not sure what planet you're from, but on my side of it, school is still on :( As a result, there will be little writing from me for a few weeks. Two until the holidays. Hopefully this chapter will keep everyone going until then…
oOoOo
"Hello, Isautier," Harry said, smiling coldly. He schooled his face into a calm mask as Isautier spun around.
"Harry Potter," he said. "I did not hear you coming."
"One of the perks," said Harry quietly, smoothing a hand over his neck. Isautier's eyes followed the movement and he nodded, hesitating.
"You are in need of something?"
"That depends," replied Harry. "I don't know if you have what I need."
Harry turned from Isautier to look out over the raging ocean that thrashed violently against the rocks at the base of the cliff. Despite the coldness of the scene, the dreariness of the surroundings, and the unpleasant screech of gulls, Harry felt somewhat relaxed, not on edge as he had been all week. He followed the path of a white gull as it soared overhead, riding the wind currents until it came to a rest upon the water.
"Actually," he said, turning back to the V'Ardian Prince. "I know that you have what I need. Whether you will give it to me, though, is another matter."
Isautier stood silently, patiently. He knew that Harry would speak when he was ready. Harry looked out at the ocean again, words forming in his mind. He took a deep breath as he recalled why he was here, what he had seen.
"Voldemort is going to attack, Isautier, and he is going to do it soon. Your father pledged alliance, but he won't fight; you know it as well as I. But you – well, you owe me."
Isautier scowled.
"You are asking me to fight, in my father's place," he stated.
"Yes," Harry confirmed. "You, and anyone else who is loyal to you."
"When?" asked Isautier, his voice hard. Harry could not tell his feelings on the subject.
"In three nights," he replied. "On Sunday evening, Voldemort intends to take Hogwarts. He has the Ministry, as you well know; the school is the next most important site in Britain."
"It is impossible!" exclaimed Isautier. "Hogwarts has countless protections in place!"
"Voldemort is a great wizard, Isautier. He has far greater numbers than us – we must outweigh him in skill if we are to be successful."
"You really think you will succeed?" asked Isautier, his voice hushed. Harry looked up to the grey sky and closed his eyes, feeling the wind whip through his hair. He opened his eyes and looked directly at Isautier.
"I have no choice," he said. "If I fail, the wizarding world is doomed. After them, the Muggles will follow. In three days time, I will take Voldemort's life, I can assure you of that."
Isautier stared at Harry for a moment and then nodded sharply.
"I will gather those I can."
"Good. Bring them to Hogwarts as soon as you can. We're going to need all the time we can get to prepare."
"Are we your only allies?" asked Isautier curiously.
Harry smiled.
"Far from it, I think."
Isautier waited for more, but Harry said nothing and Isautier nodded.
"Very well, my Lord," he said. "I will see you in three days." And with that, the heir to the throne of V'Ardian left Harry solitary on the cliff top.
oOoOo
After two weeks, Harry was sorely missing Hogwarts. He stared up at the turrets silhouetted against the dawn sky and wished that he was truly welcomed there. He strode slowly up the grassy slope to the castle, watching ripples flow across the glassy surface of the lake. It was chilly this early in the morning, but Harry was too preoccupied to notice.
The wind whistled eerily through the trees in the Forbidden Forest, and Harry wondered if the elves were preparing to come to Hogwarts yet. He turned his gaze back to the castle. McGonagall would know that he was here by now; would have been alerted minutes ago to the presence of an intruder.
Harry's eyes slid over the upright stone that marked Dumbledore's grave and he shuddered, a sick feeling welling up inside him. He forced his eyes away and headed for the front doors of the castle. Before he got there though, they were opened, and Professor McGonagall and two Aurors stepped outside to meet him. He slowly mounted the steps, feeling uncomfortable under their unyielding gazes. He stopped when he reached their level, and spoke directly to Professor McGonagall, ignoring the presence of Moody and Shacklebolt.
"I appreciate you keeping things to yourself," said Harry. He glanced quickly at the two Aurors. "Present company excepted, of course. Am I allowed in? It's quite cold out here."
"You were banished from this school, Mr Potter," said Professor McGonagall coldly. "You have not been invited to return."
Harry looked up at her with barely concealed dismay, and decided to forego the pleasantries he had planned to include in this reunion. His expression hardened and he shrugged.
"I understand your hesitance, Professor, I really do, but I think you're going to want me here when Voldemort attacks."
Professor McGonagall's face paled, but she stared down at him suspiciously.
"What are you talking about, Potter?" asked Moody. "And how do we know we can trust you?"
"You can trust me," he said, still staring at Professor McGonagall, "because I want to see Voldemort gone just as much as you do. Let me stay here, just to fight, and let us work together. When the battle is over, and Voldemort is gone, then you can do whatever you want to me, but right now, what is important is the fact that Voldemort has an army and he is ready to use it."
"How do you know that?" asked Moody, both of his eyes firmly fixed on Harry.
"Because I can see into his head," spat Harry. "And I know that in two days time, he plans to march on Hogwarts. You know as well as I do that Hogwarts is the next big target. We all know he wants it for himself, and we all know that it was only a matter of time. The time has come, Professor," Harry said firmly. "And you must let me help."
"Like you helped Albus?" asked Professor McGonagall, a catch in her voice.
"I had no choice!" enunciated Harry, a slight ache in his throat. "Dumbledore was going to die that night, regardless of who carried out the deed. It was only fortunate that I was there to prevent Draco Malfoy or Snape from doing it!"
"Fortunate?" asked Shacklebolt, scepticism in his voice.
"Because of the prophecy, Kingsley," replied Harry, his voice steely. "It's always because of the prophecy."
"Minerva has shown us the prophecy, boy," said Moody. "It says nothing about you offing anyone but the Dark Lord."
"That," said Harry, "is because you haven't heard the other prophecy."
"You can't hide behind some make-believe prophecy," stated Kingsley, while Professor McGonagall remained silent.
"Tell them, Professor," ordered Harry, and his tone left no room for argument. "Tell them what I told you before I left this place."
Professor McGonagall stared mercilessly down at him, and then suddenly she seemed to wilt.
"We will talk about this in my office," she said. She turned abruptly and hurried back inside, and Harry didn't hesitate to follow her. They hurried through the silent halls, they themselves just as quiet. Their footsteps echoed ominously off the walls, but Harry's heart felt lighter than it had in weeks.
If I must feel like this, he thought, at least I can be at home to feel it.
Shacklebolt and Moody strode behind him, footsteps firm against the ground.
Harry had lost count of the number of times he had watched the stone gargoyle step aside to reveal the sliding staircase, but he looked at it now with a twinge of longing. He could remember the number of times he had come up here without Dumbledore waiting at the top.
Soon enough, the four of them arrived in the office, but only Professor McGonagall chose to sit.
"The prophecy," Moody prompted.
"Of course," said Professor McGonagall stiffly. She rose and went to the cupboard and removed the Pensieve. Without saying anything more, she tapped the silvery substance with her wand and the four of them watched in silence as Dumbledore's memory played again.
When it finished, Trelawney's revolving figure sank back into the swirling mixture and Professor McGonagall leant back wearily in her seat.
"So…this…Lord V'Ardian," murmured Moody. "You know who he is?"
Professor McGonagall gestured tiredly at Harry, and the two Aurors turned to face him.
"Have you not been listening?" asked Harry coldly.
"You cannot be Lord V'Ardian!" snapped Moody. "The idea is preposterous!"
Harry glared at the renowned Auror and bared his right forearm, where the mark of V'Ardian was engraved in his skin.
"I can assure you, Moody, that I am. I killed Dumbledore that night because I had to, not because I wanted to. Now if we are all done deciding whether I'm loyal or not, perhaps we could discuss the impending threat to Hogwarts."
Moody and Shacklebolt glance at each other and nodded.
oOoOo
Katherine let out a surprised gasp as he pulled her into the alcove and planted a deep kiss on her lips. She struggled for a moment before realising it was him, and then leaned into him with a moan.
He pulled back and smiled at her, running a hand through her dark hair.
"You're back," she smiled.
"Just this morning," he murmured, unable to keep the smile off his face. He traced the line of her jaw and across her lips before leaning down to kiss her again. "You're so beautiful," he whispered. She smiled against his lips and twined her hands around his neck.
"How long are you back for?"
Harry tensed slightly and she stepped back with a worried frown.
"What is it, Harry?"
He smiled sadly.
"Voldemort is going to attack Hogwarts, Katherine. This is going to be my last stand, one way or another."
He watched as she absorbed the meaning of his words and he smiled lightly.
"Come on," he said softly, taking her hand. "I have to go and see Emily and the others. Will you come with me?"
Katherine nodded and they stepped out into the corridor.
"We'll talk later," Harry promised.
oOoOo
"Harry!"
Emily ran over to him and flung her arms around him in joy. He hugged her back, looking over her shoulder at the Gryffindor common room. It had gone silent at his entrance, and now students sat staring at him unabashedly. Harry pulled back and nodded once at the students, and they looked away.
"Mind if we go somewhere more private?" he asked. Emily nodded.
"Ron, Hermione and Draco are upstairs. They'll be happy to see you."
They made their way up to the seventh year dorms, and Harry was amused to find Ron and Draco sitting next to each other on Ron's bed, with Hermione on the next one.
"I see you two have learned to get along," he said, his voice laced with amusement.
Hermione jumped up and wrapped him in a hug, and was followed a moment later by Ron.
"Hi guys," he murmured. Draco didn't hug him, but he did let a small smile through as he shook Harry's hand.
"Good to see you, Potter."
"And you, Draco," replied Harry.
The six of them sat on the two beds, and for a moment there was an awkward silence. Harry looked worriedly at Ron and Hermione. Despite their closeness, he still had misgivings about whether they still wanted to know him. After all, if their positions had been reversed… no one wanted to be friends with a murderer.
"So…"
"So I suppose you know all of my dark and dirty secrets now," Harry cut in. Ron and Hermione traded unsure glances ad nodded hesitantly. Harry smiled sadly. "I know that nothing I say will ever make it right," he said haltingly, "but if you two could forgive me…that'd be great."
"Course we will, mate," said Ron suddenly, a determined expression passing over his face. "We know you're not like that…we know if there'd been any other way, you would have taken it."
Hermione nodded fervently at his side. Harry felt some of the worry he had been harbouring slide away and happy relief overtook him. He thought that he should have had a little more faith in the two of them, but previous experience hadn't made him think that they would be so quick to forgive him. He let a wide smile cut across his face.
There was nothing else he could ask for.
oOoOo
A/N: I know it's short, but I'm so busy you wouldn't believe (Busy disorganized?). Ah well. At least I got this much up. Please review! If you do you get a big battle scene. I don't tend to write battle scenes because they can be quite repetitive, but I have had requests…So it's in the works, along with a number of other stories. I've edited Darkness be my World, so it shouldn't have (m)any mistakes in it now. Am dying to resume Hatred is Harder to Bear, and am also considering writing a female Harry Potter series. Tell me is this is a good idea or not. I just had the idea because I haven't read any decent ones yet. Thanks for reading – Wujjwoo
Chapter 38: Of Expectations and Endings