Disclaimer: I wrote this when I was 12 to 13 in 2003. Harry Potter is hereby © to J.K. Rowling. Everything else is © to me, or its respective owners.
Chapter Twenty Nine: The War Begins
Cho screamed, everyone looked at the window, and quick footsteps came from next door, all the guys and Alyssia running in, bursting through the door, wands drawn.
"What's happened?" Tom asked.
Akira was still pointing at the window. The guys and Alyssia looked, their faces losing color.
"Should we open the window?" Hermione wondered.
They all nodded, Alicia and Angela completely lost, wondering what was going on. Hermione nervously moved towards the window, and opened the latch, the window swinging open with a creak. The bird flew in, dropping the scroll into Cho's hand.
"Open it. And read it aloud!" The others chorused.
Cho unraveled the scroll, and sat down, suggesting that the others do so.
"'Hello again,
Good to see you're well…Cho, Harry, Tom, Whitney, Ron, Hermione, Alyssia, Draco, Akira, Lin, Mercadez. I know you're planning a defense against Lord Voldemort, but it won't work. Thanks to Draco, Lord Voldemort can see everything that you're all doing…even Draco's more personal moments. We will be meeting again very soon. And this time…you won't escape the Dark Lord's power! So I suggest you all start saying your goodbyes now…you all won't be alive for much longer…But just expect more letters from us, and a visit sometime soon.
Rochelle'" Cho read.
"This is just great…Voldemort's been using me as a gateway to our side, using me as a spy! That asshole!" Draco said angrily.
"And he knows…everything…" Tom added.
"We need to see Dumbledore." Hermione said.
"That's the solution to everything…but we can't rely on Dumbledore all the time. He can't fix every little thing for us. Besides, he's getting really old…so we need to do this ourselves. But we could use some training…" Akira said.
Harry sighed.
"Well, then you lot can come with me the next time I meet with Sirius, Tai, and Lupin…" He said.
"What do you mean?" The girls wondered.
"He's getting special training." Tom replied.
"So when are you meeting them again?" Cho asked.
"Well, we could all go now…since today we don't have class…" Draco suggested.
"We don't?" Everyone wondered.
"Honestly, you people don't read the bulletin board anymore…I swear…" Draco muttered.
"Where would they all be right now?" Alexa wondered.
"Who knows?" Everyone replied in unison.
"We'll find Tai!" Angela and Alicia volunteered.
"No, that's alright…if you go looking for him, he'll be driven further away from us than getting any closer…honestly, after what happened on the train…I think he'll be traumatized…" Cho said.
Everyone burst out laughing, recalling the memory perfectly.
-
It had been a good hour they had been searching when they finally found Tai and the others at last. Now they were walking in the castle to a room they could use to practice lessons.
"It's called the Room of Requirement." Tai said.
"Now everyone, think as hard as you can that you want a place to learn Defense Against the Dark Arts." Sirius instructed.
Everyone did as they were told, then they passed an area three times. On the third time a door appeared, and they went inside, the room full of things they could use for practice.
"Welcome to the Room of Requirement." Remus announced.
The others stared in wonder, amazed at everything.
"This place is so cool!" Akira squealed.
She ran into the room without hesitation and took in everything like a sponge, her brown eyes becoming bright with excitement and wonder.
The others followed, Hermione going straight to the bookshelves, glancing at the spines of the thick leather volumes that lined the walls.
"Firstly, we mustn't go around letting everyone know we're learning far more advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts than required to know for all Hogwarts students. This type of magic isn't learned until after you leave Hogwarts…so you're getting the advantage by learning it now. We don't have much time until the year ends, so we'll only be doing this for a about a week or so. The Ministry of Magic would have our heads if they found out what we're about to teach you. But that's what makes it all the more fun…so now, let's begin our first lesson…" Remus explained.
"We'll be learning the Blades of Light offensive spell. Also the rest of the set of the spells." Sirius said.
Hermione's eyes grew big.
"Those are very advanced! They're known for their great destructive power!" She exclaimed.
"Yes. Very good…now we'll each educate you on a particular subject. I'll be teaching the offensive magic, Remus'll be teaching the defensive magic, and Tai will educate you with Eastern Magic from China and other Asian countries." Sirius explained.
"So let's get started." Tai said anxiously, clapping his hands together.
"What're we learning first?" Akira asked.
"We'll figure it out eventually...for now, we'll just teach you by whatever subject you want to learn first." Tai replied.
"Chinese anyone?" Akira suggested.
They all agreed and they began learning Eastern magic.
-
"Come on! Let's see those wand movements! We've got to get it right! You've almost got it! There it is! Perfect!" Tai said loudly in the room.
It was the last day of their training. They had learned all three of the magic subjects and Tai taught them martial arts in case they ever were disarmed or if they were unable to get a hold of their wand. They also learned extremely powerful wand less magic, and they had just mastered the final item of their training. The Awakening Soul. The strongest form of a shield. It was a Patronus, but it worked against everything. It conjured the animal of the caster's spirit, and the animal would protect the caster from any harm. Now that they had mastered it, there was nothing else left to learn. The group left the Room of Requirement, and headed back to Gryffindor Tower, everyone going to bed. Except one. Harry.
Harry couldn't sleep, not a wink. Rochelle's recent letter was in his mind, her words ringing in his ears.
'If Voldemort is going to attack, then he'll want to get rid of all of us. I can't let that happen. I can't put my friends in danger...even if they can defend themselves now...I'll go and fight. I won't let Voldemort hurt my friends anymore. I won't let him near the school...or anyone...nobody. That's it. I'm going to go after him and fight Voldemort until the death.' Harry thought, finally coming to a conclusion.
He grabbed his school bag, and as quietly as possible, tipped the contents out, glancing at his bed, making sure Cho and Lin were sound asleep. Then he looked around him, making sure Ron, Tom, and Draco was asleep. Then he opened his trunk, packing clothes, food, and a blanket or two in the bag, then changing out of his pajamas and into jeans and T-shirt putting on his robes over it. Then he took out a spare piece of parchment and a quill and uncorked an ink bottle, sitting on the floor by the foot of his bed, using a book as a flat surface to write, he wrote a note, then put it on the pillow where he would usually lay next to Cho, then lightly kissed Cho and Lin good bye.
"I will return. I promise." He whispered.
Then he flung his bag over his shoulder, taking out his invisibility cloak, and throwing it over his shoulders, then exiting the dark dormitory. He glanced at his watch, realizing it was at least 2:00 AM. He went down the spiral staircase, then crossed the silent, dark, empty common room, and exited the portrait hole, the Fat Lady asleep in her frame. Then putting a hand into his pocket, he took out the ring his aunt gave him during the summer before his sixth year and slipped it onto his finger, then with a small pop he vanished.
In the morning, Cho awoke, opening her eyes, expecting to see Harry staring back at her, but there was no one. Instead she saw a note, and sat up taking it into her hands, and unfolding it.
Cho read the note, not wanting to let the truth hit her. Tears fell from her Chinese eyes, and she sobbed quietly, until finally, she cried, not caring that she'd wake up the boys in the dormitory. She screamed in anguish and frustration, with loss and pain, sadness and devastation.
All three boys woke up.
"Cho, what's the matter?" Tom asked.
Cho held Lin close, and not able to find the words, she pushed the note towards them, silent tears flowing.
Draco picked up the note, and read it, his expression changing faster than the speed of light.
"WHAT?!" He yelled.
"What do you mean 'what'?" Ron asked.
"Here. Read." Draco managed.
Tom and Ron read the note, shock plastered on their faces.
The girls walked in, wondering what all the fuss was about.
"What's up?" Alyssia asked sleepily. "I heard someone yell."
"That was me...sorry 'Lyss..." Draco apologized.
"Sis, what's wrong? Why're you crying?" Akira asked.
"Just-just read..." Cho said through sobs, pointing at the note in Tom's hand.
Whitney walked over, and took a seat next to Cho, trying to console her.
"Whatever it is, it can't be that bad can it?" Whitney wondered.
"It is." Akira said.
The note was in her hand and she had just finished reading it.
"How?" Whitney asked.
"Harry's gone off to fight Voldemort. By himself." Akira replied.
Alyssia, Whitney, and Hermione's jaws dropped in horror.
Cho dried her eyes, determined not to shed another tear. She opened her eyes, and Akira's eyes widened.
"What's wrong Aki?" Cho asked.
"Your-your eyes...they're..." Akira stuttered.
Cho looked into the mirror. Her eyes were white. Then in her hair she found a small bunch of strands white as snow. She dropped the mirror, and dropped to her knees.
'The light...it's going to be...released?' She thought.
"Then the fate of our world, the final war, it's going to happen…and soon…" Akira whispered.
Akira screamed suddenly, then her hands latched themselves onto either side of her head, and she started twitching oddly.
"No! Stop! Stop it! Stop it now! STOP IT!!!!!!" She screamed.
Then her hands fell to her sides and she screamed again, the glass throughout the castle breaking. Her scream was cold and fearful, it lasted for at least a minute, and then she stopped. She fell on the floor, lying on her back, and a gray shadow floated out of her body, then Akira passed out.
"What the hell just happened?!" Everyone wondered incredulously.
"Fools. Little Akira can't hold me in anymore. I've come back!" A voice said.
Everyone whirled around and saw the gray shadow. It was Kashya.
"You!" They hissed.
"Yes. Me…who else?" Kashya smirked.
"Why are you setting yourself free now?" Cho asked.
"You see, Rochelle is calling me. Akira is just an empty shell now…she will never wake up."
"What do you mean?!"
"I'm in control now. The war has begun, you can't stop it. You Light Defense people are so weak…even your future generation, the Ultima Legion can't stop Voldemort from expanding his power. The dark will conquer all light, so I'd switch sides quick if you want to live. We'll meet again later…I'll have to kill you soon…so keep an eye open, won't you?"
With a pop she disappeared.
Cho was furious. As well were all the others.
"That b-" Tom snarled.
"Hey! Watch it! Innocent ears!" Whitney interrupted.
"Sorry." Tom replied.
"'The dark conquers all light' huh? Well…you'll soon see…what we can really do. They'll soon find that no matter how great the darkness, a light always shines within." Cho muttered furiously.
Then she left the room going into the girls dormitory and slamming the door.
"What's gotten into her?" Ron wondered.
"Oh Ron, how can you be so stupid?! Firstly, Harry's gone off to face off Voldemort, second, Kashya's taken over her sister, third, she's practically alone now." Hermione said, sighing.
"I just don't get you girls…you're so…so…um…" Ron trailed.
"Emotional?" Draco suggested.
"Yeah. That's it. You're so emotional. But I guess that's what makes us like you…" Ron said.
All the girls rolled their eyes.
"Whatever." The girls all replied at the same time.
"You all…are really, really, really confusing." Ron sighed.
"And you're plain hopeless." Alyssia said.
Days passed…Cho hadn't come out of her dormitory since the day she stormed out of the boys dormitory after their encounter with Kashya. She hadn't been able to eat or sleep at all. But she didn't neglect Lin. All the while Lin would be with her. Alyssia, Whitney, Alexa, and Hermione all watched as Cho slowly deteriorated. It was the third day after Harry left.
"She can't just stay shut up here." Alyssia whispered.
"We've got to do something…she just sits at her writing desk, staring out the window. She's never even moved out of that seat. The only time she does move is when Lin wants something." Whitney replied in a low voice.
"I'm really getting worried…" Hermione muttered.
Cho had been looking at pictures from her own photo album and seeing herself younger, in the photos, smiling and laughing with Harry by her side.
'I can't take this anymore.' She thought suddenly.
She shut the album with a snap and stood up for the first time in days.
"This is it…" She said quietly.
Those three words would be the first she'd said aloud.
She got her school bag and emptied it of everything. She packed her white cloak, Harry's letter, her photo album and diary into the bag. She took out her wand and conjured a few snacks, then pointed at her clothes, changing the nightgown into a black tank top with black fish net style gloves that reached her elbows (but there were no fingers on the gloves), black capris, and knee-high black lace up boots. She put her wand into her school bag and swung it over her shoulder.
"What is she doing?!" The three girls wondered.
She crossed the room and was about to reach for the door knob.
"Aren't you coming?" She asked.
"You knew we were here?!" The girls gasped.
"Yes. I knew."
"What're you doing anyway?"
"I'm going after him. I can't wait anymore."
She walked back to her desk and pulled out a silver ring.
"Isn't that that one ring that lets you apparatate?" Alyssia wondered.
"Very good, 'Lyss." Cho said.
She crossed the room again, turning the knob, and the three girls following her, she went into the boys dormitory.
"Cho!" The guys exclaimed in shock.
"Ron, I need a really, really, really big favor from you." Cho said.
"What?" Ron asked.
"I need you to stay here and take care of Lin and Aki. I'm going after Harry."
"You what?!" Draco, Tom, and Ron said incredulously.
"Well, you're not going alone, Cho. I'm coming with you." Whitney said.
"What about Mercadez?" Cho wondered.
"Ron can take care of her too. And Hermione can stay too if she wants so she can give a helping hand. Besides, Ron's been injured, so he really shouldn't be going out to go fight Voldemort, you know?" Whitney replied.
"There's no way in hell you're not going without me." Tom said, taking Whitney's hand.
"I wasn't planning on leaving you here."
"Then we're coming too!" Alyssia and Draco jumped in.
Alexa stepped into the doorway.
"You're not leaving me behind…" She said grinning.
"Then it's settled. Everyone, pack a bag." Cho said.
"Well, since it was Whitney's idea, I'll stay behind. I really don't mind…I don't want to leave Ron alone…" Hermione said.
Alexa, Whitney, and Alyssia walked back to their dormitory packing their bags. The guys started packing as well. Within ten minutes, everyone was ready to go.
"Ron, Hermione, take care of Lin, Mercadez, and…yourselves. We'll see you all again soon. We promise." Cho said.
They all hugged goodbye, and they formed a circle in the boys dormitory.
"Tell Tai where we've gone…when you have the chance…ok?"
"We will." Ron replied.
Cho put on the ring, took Whitney's hand, who took Tom's hand with her other hand, taking Alyssia's with his other hand, Alyssia taking Draco's with her other hand, and Draco taking Alexa's hand with his other hand, Alexa taking her other hand into Cho's.
"Look after Liam…and Nick." Cho said quietly.
"And Angela and Alicia. Just be here for them when they need you, ok?" Whitney added.
"We promise." Hermione replied.
Tears were shed, and Cho took in one last breath of the boys dormitory air, one last glance at the room, at Harry's bed, then she closed her eyes, with a loud crack, they vanished into thin air.
"Goodbye." She whispered.