Chapter 5. Dreaded Night

Harry wasn't sure if he would be able to handle the pressure. Ever since that afternoon in that cave near Hogsmeade, when the three 'Fates' had revealed the Prophecy to those present he had been feeling as if he carried the weight of the whole world upon his shoulders.

He was perfectly conscious that he wasn't the only one who had been born at that date, there were other people, like his brother for example; but he seriously doubted anyone else had a scar like the one on his forehead.

Maybe the only reason his parents hadn't made a fuss yet was because they didn't even know that scar existed at all, truth be told Harry had recently begun to doubt if they sometimes even remembered he existed. It wasn't that he doubted his family, or didn't love them, he just had the feeling that they most of the times didn't even notice him. Almost always that had proved to be beneficial, especially concerning his position as a white-lighter and all the battles he had had against lesser (and some not so lesser) demons.

"You know you can't just go on keeping everything to yourself…" A voice whispered to him in a soothing voice.

Harry didn't even need to turn around to know it was Hermione. It didn't surprise it, even if he was currently in Canterbury, England, and not San Francisco; she had become pretty good at her astral-projection.

"I know, but it's not like I have that many people around to whom confide my problems, and I can't exactly orb to SF every day." Harry replied casually.

"You have me…" Hermione reminded him. "Remember what I told you that day, I'll always remain by your side."

"You shouldn't have to put aside your own activities, your own needs for me…" Harry told her, still without turning around. "I'm supposed too…"

"You yourself said this wasn't supposed to be about you being my white-lighter, but about us being friends." Hermione interrupted him softly. "And as friends, we both have the right to look after each other." She put her hand in his shoulder. "Now that we have that clear, will you tell me what's wrong?"

"It's just that sometimes I feel this is just too much…" Harry admitted, laying his hand on top of Hermy's. "Everyone expects so much of me; in SF because I'm the youngest white-lighter ever chosen, and here in England because of all the boy-who-lived thing. Even if they don't really know it's me, I can't exactly leave my little brother on his own, Harvey isn't the one supposed to carry this burden but me, that was left clear with the prophecy the girls revealed to us that day in Hogsmeade."

"Ok, so you're sure you have to do this. But are you sure you have to go through it alone?"

Harry didn't answer.

It was then that Hermione held him by the shoulder, made him turn to face him and then held his face by the chin with one of her hands so he couldn't evade her eyes. The movement was so sudden Harry move his arms and held himself to Hermione's forearms, almost as if he were preventing himself from crashing against her.

"Harry…you don't have to do this alone…" Hermione whispered to him in such a low tone anyone would believe she was afraid to be heard by others. "I'm here with you…always…"

Ever so slowly the space between seem to lessen, until their noses were touching. They knew what was happening wasn't something that usually happened between friends, but at the same time they couldn't imagine a reason why it could be wrong, none at all. Their lips brushed ever so lightly, and suddenly a knock on the door brought them out of their daydream.

"Young master Harry?" The house-elf, Biri, called through the door. "Dinner is ready, young master Harry."

House-elves could teleport everywhere but the Potters had always told Biri how important it was to respect their privacy, and she did. That was why she could teleport from one room to another in the house, but never inside bedrooms.

"I'm coming Biri." Harry called as he turned to the door.

When he turned back he just sighed at the empty space, Hermione was already gone.

.---.

The rest of the summer went by quite smoothly, or as smooth as it can go with the Potters in high-alert at all times, almost expecting a group of DE to barge inside and kill them all.

The tension reached such a high point it was really a relief when the day for the return to Hogwarts finally came.

Neither Harry nor Hermione made a comment about what had happened in his room that day, it was almost as if it had never happened; though deep in their minds and hearts they knew it had, and that it had had great consequences, some that hadn't showed yet.

Henry and Mel knew nothing of what had happened between the other two, and they really couldn't see any difference in their relationship so they said nothing either.

What shocked practically everyone that year was to find out Snape had finally gotten the post he had desired for so long; the post as DADA teacher, while they had gotten a new Potions Professor: Mr. Horace Slughorn.

Having Snape as the new DADA Professor was certainly one of the worst tortures either of the Potter boys could have ever imagined. Yet they were at that moment going through too much to give it much importance.

Harry noticed his brother became very close with Professor Dumbledore, and after a quick travel from Hermione into his dreams she informed Harry and the rest that he had been talking to Dumbledore about one Tom Marvolo Riddle. They all knew that was the name Voldemort had had when he still was human (or as human as someone such as him can be). So they didn't linger on it, concentrating instead in training so they would be ready to face Voldemort the moment he decided to attack.

A new Minister came to power: Rufus Scrimgeour. He tried to do everything in his power to get Harvey to his side, and Harry could see his brother was having a hard time getting rid of the annoying man. It seemed that finally Harvey had understood that fame wasn't all others made it out to be, especially not when along with it came an evil man that had you on the top of his 'to kill' list.

Most of the year passed really without much news, except the often attacks from DE of course, and in which sometimes Harry and company would try to help, always anonymously, just like the Charmed Ones had taught them to work.

It surprised them all that Mel wasn't that close to them anymore. When they weren't fighting off evil and she didn't have any homework or class she would just disappear. Hermy, who was her best friend, only told the boys she was helping 'a friend' of hers, but not even she seemed to know who that friend was.

As the year approached its end Harry got a feeling things would be taking a turn to the wild side, to the dangerous side. Even Phoebe had sent them a letter telling them to be careful, that she could sense danger very close to them; its obvious that she didn't try to get them to hide and 'remain safe', but it didn't hurt for them to be warned either. A warning in time could save their lives, and others' as well.

.---.

The danger became finally real one night. Harry had felt when his brother left Hogwarts but didn't worry that much as he knew he had gone with Dumbledore to some 'special mission'. With some help from Hermy to get him in his brother's dreams he had been training Harvey without the other boy knowing, so at least Harry was sure his brother knew how to take care of himself should something happen.

And it definitely happened.

Harry was standing at the top of one of the castle's towers, the fresh wind billowing around him, helping him concentrate in what he was feeling. And then he knew it: danger…DE were inside Hogwarts…

"Harry!" Hermione astral-projected right next to him in that moment.

"I know." Harry turned around immediately. "This is what we've been dreading for months. We must do as we planned. No matter what, even if we end up blowing our covers, we can't let those DE get what they want here tonight; no one will die as long as at least one of us is able to fight."

Hermione nodded and a second later vanished.

The battle began just seconds later.

For Mel's suggestion they were all wearing white cloaks with the hoods up and golden masks to cover their faces, it was like the DE, but opposite. They began helping others from between the shadows, but a moment came when they had to act openly. And even then, no one was able to recognize them with the cloaks.

Harry and Henry fought DE as best as they could, along with Hermione; once again Mel was nowhere in sight.

All of a sudden they could see Snape pass by. Harry had heard some of his brother's friends say that the girl Lavender and another girl called Luna were standing guard outside his room, then why weren't those girls there?

Harry instantly knew something was wrong.

Hermione seemed to notice it too because she immediately ran after the DADA Professor, barely managing to dodge all the hexes others threw in her direction. She soon reached what seemed like a very strong barrier, tried to pass and instead crashed against it. But right as her body hit the ground she concentrated and left it, willing her astral form to appear beyond the barrier. It did.

Harry couldn't help but smile at Hermy's ingenious plan, she was definitely the cleverest of them all, he just hoped she would manage to protect whoever was on the top of that tower, on her own.

.---.

Hermione smile to herself as she felt Harry's concern for her, she knew the DE were blocking the pass into the room, so she used her levitation to go out through a window, hoping she would be able to get into the main room the same way. She did.

Hermy stopped on the edge of the window, silently, contemplating the situation before acting, she knew she couldn't be rash. There were four DE there against the Headmaster and Harvey (whom she couldn't see but feel); also she could sense one of the DE was a werewolf, and noticed another was just a boy, her age…Malfoy…

Her contemplations were interrupted when finally Professor Snape made his entrance, it had taken him quite some time to get there, Hermy thought.

"We've got a problem Snape," one of the DE told the arriving Professor. "The boy doesn't seem able to…"

"Severus…" someone else called the man's name.

Hermione couldn't help but gasp when seeing Professor Dumbledore, he looked so battered up, it was obvious to anyone he was in no condition to fight those in the room. But the most unnerving was maybe his tone of voice, it sounded almost as if he were…pleading…

"Severus…please…" Dumbledore whispered.

The moment Snape raised his wand Hermione knew exactly what he was about to do, and that it didn't include saving the old Headmaster; she also knew she had to act right away, before it were too late.

'I have no idea if this is going to work…' she thought to herself. 'But I can't just see him be killed by the one man he trusted so much…I just can't.'

Hermy didn't even stop to think just in how great a danger she was putting herself, even being in astral form there was a very good chance the curse would still kill her, or worse…Yet it was the only thing she could do.

Right as the green flash of light was about to hit the fallen Headmaster a white figure stepped in between, receiving the flash of light in its one gloved hands.

Time seemed to stop for a second.

And then everyone in the room gasped when seeing the green ball of light still in mid-air, just some millimeters away from a pair of white-gloved hands that belonged to a white-cloaked figure standing before Dumbledore.

"Who the hell are you?!" Snape yelled at her.

"One that won't let you kill this man." Hermy calmly told him as she concentrated and sent the spell sideways, out the window and into the black sky, where it would hurt no one.

She really had no idea from where she got the courage to stand firm and keep her voice and mood leveled, she had never been one to remain calm in tense situations.

"You can't stop us!" Another of the DE yelled and shot some spell at her.

Once again Hermy concentrated and stopped the spell, though this time she sent it right back at the attacker, making him fly backwards and impact into a nearby wall.

"You're not a witch…" Greyback, the werewolf declared.

"Oh but I am." Hermy assured him evenly. "Just not the kind of witch you're used to." She turned to face Snape and Draco. "Now leave this place, leave this castle and never come back. You won't be able to kill Albus Dumbledore, I won't let you do so. So unless you want to face my real power, you'll leave now."

The second DE seemed enraged at her words and the tone in which she said them and threw himself into an attack immediately.

Hermy simply concentrated once more and sent him flying against another wall.

"Anyone else?" She asked.

She still managed to keep her steady voice, yet she knew she wouldn't last for very long, it had been just a miracle in itself that she had ever managed to use her powers while being in her astral-form, but still she couldn't hold it up for long.

But apparently what she had done so far was enough to make the other three doubt, for they immediately turned around and left the room in a hurry, the boy at the front.

'I can't believe Voldemort would ever stoop that low to use a child…' Hermy thought sadly to herself. 'And no doubt he made use of his dirty threats too…'

"Lady…" A weak voice called her.

Right then she returned to her senses. Dumbledore was still weak for some reason and they couldn't risk another attack.

She immediately concentrated once more and saw as the invisibility cloak come off Harvey and he got back his free movement. She gave him back his wand as well.

"I trust you'll be able to stand guard for a little while." Hermione told him. "I'll get someone to help you and the Headmaster. Be right back."

And before any of the two men there could make any comment she vanished.

.---.

Hermione took a deep breath and let out a moan of pain as she straightened up from the floor.

"You alright?" Harry asked right next to her.

"Hurting here and there, but I suppose that was to be expected…" Hermy replied.

Harry didn't wait for anything else and healed her right away.

"Thanks." Hermy told her. "Seems things went just fine down here."

"Not completely." Harry told her. "Henry's trying to solve some loose ends, and we still can't find Mel. But other than that things are just fine. Did you manage to stop them?"

"Ah, that's right!" Hermy almost hit herself. "That's the bad thing for changing from the astral form to the real form so suddenly; things get mixed up in my brain. Anyway, they need your help up there. I managed to stop the DE from killing the Headmaster, which was their main goal, but he's still really weak for some reason I know not, and your brother is up there too."

"Harvey?!" It was a good thing no one was near, or they could have revealed themselves right then and there.

"Yes. Worry not, he's fine. A bit shaken, but that's as far as it goes. Even under the danger of being murdered, Dumbledore still did everything he could to assure his safety."

"That's good to know. Can you stand?"

"Yes. Come on."

With that, and without anyone seeing them at the moment they both disappeared from that place and reappeared just a second later in the Tower.

"Who…who are you?" Harvey asked, his wand pointed right at them.

"Don't worry, I'm back to help you." Hermy assured him. "I told you I would bring someone to help as well."

With their hoods still up and their masks in place no one could identify them as Harry Potter and Hermione Granger, and that was just fine with them.

Harry immediately used his powers to heal Professor Dumbledore as much as he could, which wasn't completely, but at least enough to ensure his wellbeing. Then he did the same with the wounds his brother had gotten.

"Who are you?" Dumbledore finally had the strength to speak. "Why are you helping us?"

"About who we are…we must say we're just friends." Harry replied.

"And about why we're helping…" Hermy took a moment in thinking about a good answer. "Lets just say we have taken it upon ourselves to protect the innocent."

They nodded at each other, knowing that's what everyone who knew them would have said.

"Now if you'll excuse us we must leave." Harry said. "There are people who don't yet know we were here tonight, and it would be better if they didn't find out."

Both Dumbledore and Harvey knew that was an exhortation for them to keep their presence a secret, at least for the moment being.

Harry extended his equally gloved hand to Hermione, who took it without hesitancy. They still had to get to Henry and find Mel. Something told them the night wasn't over yet…

.---.

"Draco, wait!" The female voice called over and over again. "Wait!"

"Stop following me!" Draco finally came to a halt in his mad run to turn and yell at the girl.

The one standing before him was, surprisingly, none other than Melinda Halliwell.

"You've got to stop following me." He complained to her.

"No, not until you accept that what you're doing is wrong!" Mel replied stubbornly.

"Fine, I admit it. Betraying everyone here in Hogwarts, allying with Voldemort and having just tried to kill Dumbledore was wrong. Happy?" Draco said sarcastically. "That doesn't mean I can step back now."

"But you can!" Mel insisted. "You haven't yet killed anyone, I'm sure of that. That means your soul isn't yet tainted, that means not all is lost yet."

"How can you be so sure I didn't kill the old man?" Draco asked raising a brow, truly curious.

"Because if you had you wouldn't be still standing here with me." Mel replied sincerely. "If you had really killed Dumbledore you wouldn't give a damn of what I said and would have killed me too the moment I began pursuing you."

"I could still do it…"

"But you won't. You won't because it's not in you. You're not really a murderer Draco. Even if that's what the Dark Lord, and even your father wants you to be, you aren't. You aren't evil. Not really."

"When are you going to understand that it doesn't really matter?! They'll kill my mother if I even try to ignore a single order. I won't let that happen."

"You don't have to. You remember what you said when you saw me training, late at night, some months ago. You said you knew I was special, different from most, yet you haven't told that to the Dark Lord."

"That's because I didn't want him to…"

"To hurt me; or even to send you to get me, I know. You protected my secret, maybe not even you understand completely the reason yet, but still I can't let it pass…"

Right then they heard voices, DE were approaching.

Draco reacted fast, faster than even he had believed himself capable of, he took Mel by the arm and pushed her behind a nearby tree, going after her, using his black cloak to cover the both of them from prying eyes.

Moments later Professor Snape and Greyback passed, unscratched as Hermy hadn't had the strength to pursue them and preferred to make sure those in the castle were ok.

Slowly Draco helped Mel to straighten up, she smiles softly at him.

"You see?" She asked.

He knew what she meant. He'd helped her, even being in the situation he was currently in, his instincts had made him save her, had made him think of her safety above his own; and for some reason he didn't believe that to be a bad thing, not really.

"It isn't too late yet." Mel insisted to him, she extended her hand. "Just take my hand and I promise you I'll do everything and anything that is needed to secure your safety."

"Not mine, my mother's." Draco replied. "It's my mother I'm worried about."

"Very well." Mel nodded. "I'll make sure she's safe, but you'll have to come with me, to come back to the castle, to everyone.

"You're conscious that's suicide?" Draco asked raising a brow again. "It's likely they'll kill me the moment I step inside."

"No they won't." Mel insisted. "I told you, you're under my protection, nothing will happen to you as long as I'm here."

"And when you're not?" Draco asked with a hint of humor.

"We'll figure out something." Mel's smile increased. "So?"

Draco took her hand…and his destiny was sealed.


The Sixth Year is here! I don't know if you people will agree with me, but ever since I read that book I felt Dumbledore shouldn't have died. I've read what several people have written on why his death was needed, but will all due respect, I don't like it.

I hope you'll like the chapter. Sixth year isn't over yet, in the next you'll see the consequences of what took place this night; and you'll find out the first clue to the center of this whole mess.

Don't forget to leave reviews! Lots of reviews! Remember that the sooner you update, and the more reviews I receive, the sooner you'll get the next chapter in your hands…