I do not own Harry Potter or gain anything from writing this other than the opportunity of expanding on an already brilliant universe for my own entertainment, and hopefully yours.

CHAPTER 16 - LIE FOR YOU

Harry sat in an abandoned classroom with five of his closest friends, what he just told them had shocked them to the core. This was the true test of their friendship. The only question being, would a real friend do as Harry asked, or would they fight him at every turn.

'No!' Hannah said firmly. 'There's no way we'll let you do this!'

'It's the only way,' Harry said. 'From what Dumbledore said there are four Horcruxes left, that makes six pieces of soul in all. The backlash could kill all of them. Or at least damage them fatally. I won't let that happen, this way the only one at risk is me. This was always the plan, I'm just telling you now.'

'They'll never agree to that, Harry,' Ron said quietly. 'You know Hermione; she'll try to find a way no matter what.'

'She's tried already, Ron,' Harry said sadly, 'there's nothing.'

Ginny watched him with teary eyes like she was just seeing him for the first time.

'That's why you've been acting the way you are this year,' she said quietly. 'The flirting, the … the shagging, the ridiculously expensive gifts. You've already given up.'

'I'm just living as much of my life as I can,' Harry said sadly. 'Don't worry, if I die you'll all never want for money a -'

'YOU THINK I GIVE A DAMN ABOUT MONEY?' Ginny snapped, flying to her feet, breathing raggedly as Harry watched her unflinching. 'I care about you, Harry,' her voice became quiet and sad. 'I don't want you to die.'

She sat back down and sobbed into her hands.

Harry resisted the urge to go comfort her, instead turning to the rest of the people gathered. Sue Li stared at him with a stubborn expression on her face, tears in her eyes. Neville had his head in his hands, shaking it from side to side. Ron was staring off into space, apparently deep in thought.

Only Hannah looked at him with no sadness or pity. She looked instead like she'd hex him into oblivion for being a fool.

'You told me my job was to keep you alive,' she said angrily. 'I intend to do my job properly. I haven't been training my arse off with you just for you to tell me you've already given up.'

'I never said I've given up,' Harry said firmly. 'I'm just being realistic to the possibility that I'll ... I don't want to die, Hannah.'

The Hufflepuff girl regarded him coolly, her foot taping aggressively against the stone floor.

'I'll do it,' she finally said.

'What?!' Ginny gasped, the others turned surprised eyes on her as well.

'But I have a condition,' she continued, foot still tapping.

Harry leaned forward, meeting her eye curiously. 'What is it?'

'We need more help,' she said, her foot stopping. 'I'll only do it if you tell Dumbledore.'

So that was how the six of them found their way to Albus Dumbledore's office, silently waiting as the wizened wizard read through the ritual in the book from the Black library.

'Fascinating,' Dumbledore muttered as he leaned away from the book, 'truly a different way of looking at the soul than I had ever heard. I do remember you using that peculiar spell at the welcoming feast.'

Dumbledore paused, his eyes flicking to the scar on Harry's forehead.

'Tell me, Harry,' he said in a tired voice, 'why have you not brought this to my attention earlier?'

'Because I didn't think you'd like me risking my life in this way,' Harry said honestly. 'Didn't think you'd go for it.'

Dumbledore regarded Harry over his half-moon spectacles, blue eyes twinkling. Harry met his gaze unblinking.

'You know about the piece of Voldemort's soul in your scar, I take it,' he finally said.

'Yes sir. How long have you known about it?'

'I learned of it in your second year,' Dumbledore said sadly. 'Or at least, I'd guessed at it, and as you well know, my guesses often turn out to be correct.'

Dumbledore rubbed his blackened hand idly before he spoke again.

'I should tell you,' he continued, 'that the reason I kept this information from you, is it was my belief that in order to destroy Voldemort, you would have to die.'

There were gasps of surprise from all but Harry, he had guessed as much himself, Hermione saw the truth in that too. That's why she agreed to trying this in the first place. Though Harry never told her the full extent of his plan.

Harry did not answer Dumbledore, just waited patiently for the old Headmaster to speak. Eventually he did.

'I take it from your silence, that this is a fact you've already concluded for yourself?' at Harry's nod, he continued. 'Then we are in agreement that your death would have been a necessary sacrifice. This however,' he added, tapping the book in front of him, 'certainly changes everything. Tell me, how far have you progressed so far?'

Harry related what he'd accomplished since summer. How his seven links have already been strengthened and how he had been strengthening his own soul. Then the plan he had for the ritual.

'It seems you are in the final stages of preparation,' Dumbledore said proudly. 'I'm assuming, judging by the stubborn look on Miss Abbott's face, that your friends here do not agree with the risk that you are putting yourself in?'

'Er, you could say that,' Harry said with a sheepish look at Hannah.

Dumbledore was pondering for a long time. Considering the options of the plan that was laid before him.

'I believe you are correct in the method you are employing,' Dumbledore said, causing Harry to sigh in relief and Hannah to go stiff. 'Now, Miss Abbott, let me finish,' he said quickly to forestall the Hufflepuff's imminent comment. 'I believe you are making some rather large oversights.'

Harry nodded and waited for Dumbledore to continue.

'Firstly, confirmation that Voldemort is truly gone. It is very possible that, even with his death, his followers will continue causing destruction and spreading fear in his name.'

Harry nodded slowly, he had hoped that the Dark Marks fading would be enough proof, but he could see how more tangible evidence would be prudent.

'What do you propose?' Harry asked.

'Leave that to me,' Dumbledore said mysteriously. 'There is also the matter of making things known to the Ministry. After his demise, the chaos that will ensue in the Death Eater ranks will no doubt be the perfect opportunity to capture those that remain. I will handle that as well.'

Harry smiled gratefully; he had no desire to deal with the Ministry.

'Thirdly,' the Headmaster said gravely, 'you have taken sufficient measures against the damage that will be inflicted upon your soul. However, I believe you need to further consider how damaging the ritual can be to your body.'

'We have thought of that, Headmaster,' Sue Li spoke up for the first time. 'Harry and I are able to make a perfect Draught of the Living Death. We were planning to feed it to him to put his body in stasis.'

'An effective plan to be sure,' Dumbledore said in an impressed tone. 'However, I believe a more prudent course of action would be immediate care. For that, myself and perhaps Madam Pomfrey should be present for the ritual. Fawkes would be a worthy addition as well, I think.'

The Phoenix let out a musical trill from his perch.

After agreeing to his suggestions, they spent a great deal of time discussing the minute details of the ritual. After dismissing all but Harry and Hannah, Dumbledore gave some insight into how the magic they will be performing could affect them in the moment.

When Hannah asked if it would be a better idea if Dumbledore himself filled the role she was undertaking he shook his head.

'No, Miss Abbott,' the Headmaster said seriously, 'it could not be me. I agree with Harry in that you are the best person for the job, though Miss Weasley would be a suitable replacement, I think, perhaps Miss Li as well.'

'But sir,' Hannah argued stubbornly, 'I'm not especially powerful magically. Or even very smart, not like you anyway. I don't really understand why it should be me of all people.'

'Ah, but you have a power within you that is more powerful than anything I possess,' Dumbledore said in a grandiose voice. 'A bond with young Harry here, one that he shares with you, that makes you the perfect candidate.'

'W - what?' Hannah sputtered. 'I don't understand.'

She turned to Harry with a confused look. He just smiled at her and took her hand in his. Then he said one word.

'Love.'

'You can't just say things like that,' Hannah mumbled later in the Room of Requirement. 'A girl is bound to get the wrong impression.'

Harry stood in the center of the Heptagram with his shirt off, eyes closed as he concentrated on the magic flowing through the links. The seven points around him were empty but they still glowed with the residual magic of the witches that were there earlier. Hannah had both her hands on his bare back, the multi stone necklace around her neck glowing with the same magic as the lines on the floor.

'It's not like it isn't true though,' Harry pointed out.

'Yes,' Hannah admitted, 'but not like that. I know you were just trying to tease me.'

Harry looked over his shoulder and gave her his most charming smile.

'Not like I haven't thought about us like that,' he said smoothly. 'Haven't you?'

Hannah's blush returned but she glared steadily at Harry.

'Wouldn't dream of it,' she said in an even voice.

Harry turned back and chuckled, placing his wand to the center of the names on his chest. A Heptagram identical to the one on the floor appeared on his skin, glowing brightly along with the names.

'It's not working as well as it was before,' Hannah said, looking at the movement of Harry's Lightsoul. 'I think we're reaching your limit.'

'Makes sense,' Harry said easily. 'We've already gone past what I expected.'

Hannah took a deep breath and pressed her weight harder into Harry's back.

'Let's start,' she said.

The circle around them erupted in magic, the two in the centre each muttering a different incantation.

A drop of blood fell from Harry's scar, but evaporated before it even hit the ground.

The rest of the time left before the planned date went by in a flash. Harry spent as much time as he could with his friends.

He met with Tonks occasionally, usually in the Room, most of the time they would just talk. She was still interested in Remus though Harry could tell some of the spark she had felt for the werewolf had faded. Whenever she was in the mood for something more, however, there would be very little conversation and a great deal of action.

Luna and Susan started spending more time together even outside of Harry's presence. The two were becoming fast friends and, Harry suspected, something a little more. Time spent with one was often spent with the other. Their dynamic in the bedroom hadn't changed, they just had more members. Susan enjoyed becoming more and more submissive and Luna enjoyed experimenting with her. Being with them to Harry was simply fun.

Him and Katie kept their tradition going after every Quidditch practice, they were more often than not being joined by an increasingly bolder Ginny Weasley, though she had never approached them or brought it up outside of the event. Katie realized that she liked to be watched and the risk of getting caught.

This brought them on several occasions to enjoy acts of debauchery in very compromising situations. Under the stands at the Quidditch pitch, just inside the Forbidden Forest and one time, under the Invisibility Cloak in the middle of a corridor.

The night they beat Ravenclaw and won the Quidditch cup, Katie smuggled him up to the girl's dorm. Instead of bringing him to her bed, however, she led him to the fifth year dorm, where a newly single and blushing Ginny was already waiting on her bed. Katie completely ignored her, stripping Harry then riding him desperately while the redhead was forced to take care of herself.

After a few rounds, the last of which Katie finished him with her mouth, the older Chaser planted a wet, sloppy kiss on the younger. Harry took the opportunity to touch the beautiful redhead in a way that was rather improper for a big brother figure. Not that she complained in the slightest as Harry brought her to several orgasms with his mouth. Once Katie moved away from the drunk looking Ginny, Katie grabbed Harry and pulled him out of there before he had the chance to take things further. Ginny approached him later and said that he could "make her his" but it would have to be after the ritual. Just another reason for him to survive.

Harry still spent every Monday evening with Tracey, Daphne and Sue. Though they were often joined by Hermione and Terry Boot. When Sue and Terry would leave, Harry, Tracey and Daphne would get more intimate. He found out that ever since Harry and Tracey got together, Tracey had been telling her best friend every single detail of their encounters. The stories would usually end in the two friends exploring each other in a more sexual manner. This then easily translated to the two of them sharing Harry at the same time.

Hermione would usually stay and distract herself reading. Though Harry noticed on several occasions she was paying more attention to him than whatever was written in her book. A soft whimper would often reach his ears that made his blood run hotter than it already was.

Hermione was shy about her affections for him. He figured she felt strange having to share him the way she was. They would often walk through the halls hand in hand, but if one of the other witches Harry was with would show up she would try to let go nervously. He never let her of course, usually pulling her in closer to him and giving her a reassuring squeeze.

She admitted to him eventually that she actually enjoyed sharing him. She even enjoyed watching him with the other women, she found it as exciting as she did fascinating. What was bothering her was that she didn't feel adequate around the others, like there was a gap separating her from them called beauty.

Daphne, Tracey and Susan had a regal beauty about them. High cheekbones, large assets and an elegance that can only be gained from being raised in the highest of pure-blood circles.

Luna and Katie had a wild beauty that would be better described as sexy. They were insatiable in their desire for Harry and fully confident when they were alone with him. He was their prey or they were his, wandering hands always present when they were.

Tonks was, well, a Metamorphmagus. Even Daphne, who was extremely confident in her own looks, admitted feeling a hint of inadequacy while in her presence. Of course, Tonks was never one to be prim and proper over making herself look beautiful. She did it naturally, any iteration of her always was.

Hermione felt she was average at best, claiming she had plain curly brown hair, a slightly chubby face, smallish breasts and not much of a bum to speak of.

This, of course, was utter bullshit that Harry simply didn't stand for. He had found her attractive from the moment he met her, even if he was a jerk to her at first. He knew her every little quirk, the sound of her wistful sighs and frustrated groans. The way she bit her lip or would get the most radiant smile when she was immersed in a book she loved. When she turned that radiance toward him it made his heart race, making him seek out that smile by trying to make her as happy as he could. She was captivating and gorgeous and he wanted to make her see what he did. But she was more stubborn than a bowtruckle in a chopped down tree.

Because of this, Harry found that he had to seek her out more than the others. She would often hesitate before moving things from a normal conversation to something more, even when she wanted to. Harry started taking the lead with her more than any of the others. He made more effort to let her know he cared and to tell her how beautiful he knew she was.

On one evening where Hermione had gotten more stubborn than usual in her self-deprecation, Harry threw her over his shoulder and walked from the common room to the Room of Requirement. He made love to her well into the morning, never relenting in telling her how beautiful she was.

They've slept in the Room together every single night since. Though they would often have others join them.

It was on one of these mornings where Harry woke up to a banging filling the room. He sat up straight, wand in hand in an instant. Looking beside him he saw Hermione, Daphne and Tracey had done the same. When he left the bed he recognized that the disturbance was coming from outside the room. Quickly pulling out the Marauders Map, he checked to see who was causing it.

'It's Malfoy,' Harry said scathingly. 'Guess he's finally snapped.'

Draco Malfoy was becoming more and more unhinged in the previous months. Deciding to cut him off completely from the Room of Requirement, Harry had Dobby move in to hold the room while Harry and the others were away. He had a little room off to the side where the elf had everything he needed to live comfortably. Harry would often come into the Room only to find it messy and covered with dust, Dobby cleaning away. Apparently the Room could even accommodate a house elf's need to do household chores.

The Room no longer working for Malfoy had been devastating to him. Tracey and Daphne reported him spacing out in the common room, muttering madly, saying things like, 'He is going to kill me.'

Harry didn't have to perform Legilimens to know who Malfoy was talking about. Lucky for Malfoy though, Harry was planning to take care of that problem. For everyone.

'Well that's annoying,' said a groggy Tracey. 'I was having such a nice dream too.'

The banging continued to echo throughout the Room as Malfoy did whatever he was doing outside.

'Think he can get in?' Daphne asked sleepily.

'I doubt it,' Harry said slowly. 'I already asked the room not to let anyone else in. Him specifically too. I don't know if breaking down the wall would work though.'

'It might not be impossible,' Hermione said thoughtfully. 'The walls of Hogwarts are all magically enforced, but they aren't indestructible.'

Harry let out a sigh and started to get dressed during another loud rumble, some dust falling from the ceiling.

'I'll just have to go stop him then,' he said in an annoyed voice.

'You can't just go out the door,' Daphne said exasperatedly. 'He's literally in the middle of blasting it with spells. You'll just get caught up in it.'

As Harry finished dressing he tapped his wand on his leg in frustration, a few sparks flying out the end. Even in his annoyed state he couldn't help his eyes from wandering to the three beauties in front of him.

'Focus, Harry,' Tracey teased, bending over very distractingly to pull on her knickers.

'Right,' Harry said, adjusting his trousers. 'I wish there was a back door to this place.'

As he said it a door appeared on the far end of the room.

'Well that's convenient,' he said as he walked over to it. 'Have I ever mentioned how much I love it here?'

Pulling his Invisibility Cloak over his shoulders Harry held a single finger over his lips before covering his head. Stepping out of the doorway he looked down at the Marauders Map and saw he was just around the corner from where Malfoy was still blasting the wall with magic. Quietly, Harry went around the corner to see a very dishevelled Draco Malfoy. He looked like he hadn't slept in days, some of his greasy hair was plastered to his forehead, the rest sticking up at odd angles. The dark circles under his wide, mad eyes reached all the way down to his sunken cheeks. He was screaming Bombarda Maxima over and over with varying degrees of success, often bungling the incantation or wand movement.

Harry pointed his wand out of the cloak and cast a silent Confundus charm on him. Malfoy hesitated for a moment then stowed his wand and walked purposefully back toward his common room.

'What happened?' Hermione asked as he entered through the side door.

'Confunded him,' Harry said, stowing away his Cloak. 'Told him to forget about the Room and go to bed for a long, long time.'

'Shoulda just stunned him and shoved his wand up his arse,' Tracey said flippantly.

Hermione snorted loudly then looked embarrassed, muttering a meek, 'Sorry.'

The remainder of the morning Tracey was focusing on trying to get Hermione to laugh while the rest of them were working on some homework before breakfast. It was Saturday and they were in no rush to go down to the Great Hall and pretend they didn't know each other.

'One week from today,' Daphne murmured quietly.

'Nervous?' Harry asked.

'Well I don't even have to do anything,' Daphne said sadly. 'I'm nervous for you though. I'm scared, Harry.'

Harry didn't say anything, just pulled her into a hug.

'As long as we're all together everything will be fine,' Hermione said confidently.

Harry felt a twinge of guilt. He knew that they would hate him for deceiving them like this. He had to though; he could never forgive himself if they died for him. Especially when he could definitively prevent it the way he was planning to. They would just have to forgive him somehow, hopefully through beating him over the head for being a stupid prat and not by mourning.

For them it was next week. The real date was tomorrow. Tomorrow could be the very last day of his life. This being the case, he had convinced Dumbledore rather easily to give him and his friends permission to go to Hogsmeade today. He had the entirety of the Three Broomsticks reserved for everyone, with a few extra surprises. If he was going to die, he was going to go out in style.

The chatter in the Three Broomsticks was loud and cheerful. Everyone Harry had ever cared about was there. All the Weasleys, Remus Lupin, Hagrid and even his old Gryffindor Quidditch teammates. Most of the members of the DA were invited - a few who Harry didn't like or trust were omitted - all of Harry's year mates from every house but Slytherin, and some people from other years he'd built friendships with.

Harry had procured Polyjuice Potion for Daphne and Tracey but the two bravely declared they didn't want to use it for this. Harry made a little speech at the beginning, welcoming everyone, making a few jokes and finishing it off with a warning that anyone who spreads word of Daphne and Tracey's presents would suffer worse than Marietta Edgecombe with a touch of Weasley twin flare. He finished that statement with a pointed look at Lavender and Parvati, the former of which was grinning sheepishly from Ron's lap. Both promised to be good.

It was honestly one of the most fun nights of his life, and he vowed if he survived he would do this kind of thing more often.

He was currently standing on the upper level balcony, looking down at the raucous group below, smiling at the people he was willing to die for, when perhaps the most important person in his life approached him.

'You look your usual pensive self, don't you,' Hermione Granger said playfully, moving close beside him.

Immediately Harry's arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her tight to his side.

'I'm not usually in such a good mood when I'm pensive,' he said lightly. 'Unless I'm with you, that is.'

Hermione rested her head on his shoulder and they looked down at their friends in silence for a while.

'What are you going to do when all this is over?' Hermione asked quietly.

Harry refrained from making his usual "if I survive" comment but simply answered her as best he could.

'No idea,' he said confidently.

They fell back into their comfortable silence, neither really seeing what was in front of them as they got lost in their own thoughts. He really didn't know the specifics of what he wanted to do if he survived. He knew he was happy right now, but he wasn't foolish enough to believe he could keep his juggling act of seven witches going. It was working right now because he had the convenient excuse of his impending death.

'We were talking ... the seven of us I mean,' Hermione said into the silence. 'It may be strange, but we like what we have right now.'

Harry scrunched up his face in disbelief; surely this wasn't the ideal situation for any of them. She seemed to read his thoughts from his expression and continued.

'It might not last forever … well … it probably won't,' she looked sad at the prospect, 'but we all like what you've become this year, Harry. Even if it was only because you thought you were going to die.'

Thought she says. He couldn't help but smile. Hermione has never let herself believe that Harry was going to die. Her firm belief was almost enough to make him certain he would survive. Almost.

'Come on, Hermione,' Harry said, taking her hand and heading for the stairs, 'the party's not over yet.'

After making a quick announcement the entire party made their way outside into the dark night. They stood in the courtyard in the middle of Hogsmeade, curiously looking around. Harry was in the middle of his seven, pointedly ignoring their probing questions as he just stared up at the stars.

Suddenly the sky lit up with a sparkling purple W that appeared with a fizzle, then another, followed by a third. The ensuing explosion made it look as if it were daytime as the greatest firework show the wizarding world had ever seen began in front of them.

Sparks in the forms of witches and wizards and dragons and all kinds of magical creatures lit up the night. A visual story being told of two brave red-haired twins trying to save the day from an evil warlock with a lightning bolt scar on his forehead.

There was plenty of humour in true Weasley fashion, but in the end it was quite dramatic. The final battle was an extraordinary display of fireworks showing a truly magnificent wizarding duel. The Dark warlock killed one of the brothers but the other finished him off in the end. Though they all came back to give the loudest, most explosive bow anyone had ever seen.

Everyone was still talking about it as the students (and Tonks) made their way in a large group back to the school. Harry walked with his closest friends up to the Room of Requirement for an after party of sorts. He made a toast to Weasley Wizard Wheezes and champagne flutes appeared before them all, courtesy of Dobby.

As they downed the drinks they all sat lounging on the multi-house coloured couches that the room provided, chatting and laughing. Then seven of them began getting incredibly sleepy. Hermione was fighting to keep her eyes open and swung to look at Harry who was staring back at her sadly.

'No!' she managed in a shaky voice before her eyes shut and she collapsed against the couch she'd been sitting on.

The remainder of the group stood up and looked down at their work, disgusted.

'I hate this,' Neville said as he carried Luna's sleeping body to an empty bed.

'Me too,' Harry said sadly, stroking Hermione's hair gently, 'but it's to save them. After tomorrow, Voldemort will be dead, and they'll be alive. That's all that matters.'

'That's not all that matters,' Hannah said sharply, turning from where she'd laid Susan down, 'and I won't let you forget it!'

Harry placed the necklace he got Hermione for Christmas on her neck, she had already been wearing the bracelet and earrings.

'I know you won't,' he said calmly. 'That's why I picked you.'

Harry and Hannah left the seven slumbering girls to the care of Ron, Neville, Ginny and Sue. They met Dumbledore at the Entrance Hall and made their way to the place they'd prepared in the Forbidden Forest, the multi-stone necklace already gleaming magically from Hannah's neck.