Chapter Eleven... Symmetry

Reality.

Maybe... there was still a haze in my eyes, despite the fact I hadn't removed my glasses the night before. I could feel Cho's head tucked in the crook beneath my chin, her solid warmth still in my arms. But I couldn't shake that drift... that odd sensation pulling me backwards. I could see myself laying on the bed of chaff and hide, wrapped up in Hagrid's overcoat with her. But I could walk around. I left the tent... not really certain if I used the flap or not, and walked over the the campfire.

Madam Pomfrey appeared sleep-eyed, but otherwise composed and sitting at her spot around the fire. I couldn't tell if it was morning or afternoon due to the black, stirring clouds I could make out above the canopy. The faint rumble of thunder echoed in the distance.

"Here's your tea, Poppy." Professor McGonagall appeared from my right, startling me until I realized she couldn't see me, "with a bit of cheer."

Of course her words were curt, but Madam Pomfrey took the cup anyway, "Thank you, Minerva."

"Any word from the Ministry since I've been away?"

Madam Pomfrey frowned at this, "Not a one, and the owl I sent with the emergency returned so out-of-sorts I thought it had been confunded."

Prof. McGonagall sighed, "I surmised as much... the clouds, the snow. This isn't natural. That creature is keeping us here. I'm glad that Filius and the others managed to escape before the blizzard hit."

"But it doesn't matter if we're cut off from anyone who can help!"

"What about the Centaurs?"

"They will protect Harry – and us by extension – but they will not help us retake the castle or fight the creature. That's as far as their arrangement with Albus extends." Madam Pomfrey seemed a bit more awake now, and she drained the remains of her cup.

"That makes sense... he wouldn't want to endanger the herd."

Endanger.

My stomach sank a little bit, and I didn't want to hear anymore. I wandered away from the fire, scanning for Hagrid. He wasn't anywhere in sight, nor were there any centaurs... but I felt them. Their many eyes surrounded us, and I knew that even if they were not within my vision, they were out there... watching.

Something caught my vision... something black.

My heart stopped. I could see it. It. The nightmare creature drifted silently back into the mist, and without thinking I bolted after it. Racing past tree after tree, dimly aware that my feet were not touching the ground at all, I chased it. The fog grew thicker the further away from the encampment I got, but I didn't care. I wanted to find this monster.

Here.

The alien thought pierced my consciousness, and I followed it. A dark mind reaching out, I simply followed the path, knowing that each black thread of power would inevitably lead to the beast. Soon, dark tendrils surrounded me, carving a path to the core. And in the center, the creature stood.

"Hello, boy." Mujaki bowed with a grin like a scythe.

"What do you want?"

The grin faded, and the beast tilted it's head, studying me, "She's coming for you."

Something caught in the back of my throat, and I swallowed hard before speaking again, "You know where we are?"

"No. I can see you because she feels you. You are connected, and that's why she's drawn to you. She is bright, so I watch from the shadow..."

It opened it's mouth, and I saw those teeth – small, sharp and gleaming against it's dark complexion, "... until she finds you."

It came close to me, like before, and I could feel the thing's vile lips brush against my cheek, "You are ripening... soon you and the girl will be ready, fatted with power, and then I'll eat you."

Before I could think about it, my anger boiled up and I lunged at the creature. I gripped it's throat and we fell to the muddy ground. The monster was shocked at being touched, and a vise-grip held my arm and threw me into a tree. I wasn't in pain - no pain - but my limbs refused to move. Mujaki drew itself up, floating several feet in the air – like I was before – and gazed upon me with an expression of mixed curiosity and disgust. With a quick brush of it's hand, I levitated in the air, as though I were in the invisible grip of an enormous hand. Inches away from me, the creature studied me again.

Finally, with a small sigh, it dropped it's hand, "Begone."

And like lightning, I was thrown back through the trees, through the mist, and finally landing on my back before the campfire. There was no pain, but my body buzzed and throbbed. My body... where was it? I got to my feet and stumbled back into the tent, not really aware enough to know whether I used the flap or not. I was still in bed, wrapped in the overcoat, but Cho was awake. She was still beneath the coat with me, but she was wiping what looked like tears from my eyes.

"I hope you don't hate me when this is over," She whispered before gently kissing my forehead and cradling my head against her bare chest. I blinked, and my vision was gone. There was warm weight next to me, and I allowed myself to fall.

My eyes opened slowly at first, and gradually I could feel myself again. My arms tightened around Cho, who though I hadn't seen with my real eyes knew she was there, and I felt her heart beat faster at my touch. The pace quickened, the flighty pulse against my head, and I never wanted to leave, to rise again. I could live blissfully with this heart in perfect sync with mine.

I hope you don't hate me when this is over.

I didn't hear the words exactly... but I knew them, could reach out and think aloud without my mouth ever moving... I could never hate you.

Cho froze, her heart pausing for an instant. I could hardly explain to her what was happening... hell, I was figuring it out for myself, but I tried to placate her fear. Come here...

What's happening?

I don't know... I can't explain it, but the best I can do is show you.

She came at my thought... and she was close, closer than anyone had ever been to me. She could see everything, unrolling like a bad dream. Quirrell, Cedric, Voldemort, the Basilisk, Hermione, Ron and finally... Ginny. It was as though everything that is me came pouring into her mind... our mind.

Our mind. For the briefest moment we were one, together in every possible way. After the memories had subsided, the only thing left was myself, standing alone in the darkness with the single thought This is me... this is the package. Every hurt and pain I've never wanted to pass on belongs to you now. And she didn't care. She came to me and her thoughts poured into mine and we were one. Her parents... quiet at the dinner table, at every meal. Shopping at Diagon Alley as a first-year with her mother, shopping this year alone, eating lunch with Hermione and Ron at the Leaky Cauldron, every snarling Sirius Black poster, every kiss with Cedric, standing with Ginny on the edge of the world...

Our mind.

The mockery my life had become without Hermione and Ron, Cedric's eulogy, happy parents showering gifts, leaping from ground to rooftop almost ethereally, flying.

The girl... you knew her.

Now you do too.

I could have loved her.

So could I.

Do you love me?

I don't know.

No lies. No facades we could return to after this. When I opened my eyes, I kissed her. And she kissed me back as our hearts beat in sync. I didn't know if I loved her... or if I could love anyone anymore, but we knew each other. We were each other. Two sides... night and day.

Night and Day.

Something dawned on us.

Mujaki... dark, demonic Mujaki.

Ginny... pale as walking death.

No way...

It's the only way.

After Cho buttoned her blouse we were out of the tent. Professor McGonagall frowned disapprovingly, "I don't think the current situation calls for -"

"We need to talk." Cho and I said in unison.