Chapter 16

Taking Leaves and Bogarts

The next morning Raya woke up before the sun rose. She slipped on her night socks and crept out of the dormitory. When she got to the top of the stairs she peered over the railing down onto the common room. There she saw Draco pacing back and forth in front of the fireplace. She walked silently down the staircase and waited for him to notice her. She knew from experience that he got scared when she just started talking out of the blue when he didn't know she was there. It only took a couple seconds for him to notice she was there.

"Hey Ray," said Draco and he continued his pacing.

"Is something wrong?" asked Raya quietly.

"I don't know," said Draco.

Raya gave him a questioning look.

"I mean I don't know whether I should go or not," said Draco still pacing.

"Draco," said Raya, "I thought we already talked about this."

"Yeah," said Draco, "but I have had a lot of time to think about it. And the more I think about it, the more I don't want to leave you."

"Draco," said Raya and she sat down on the sofa, "I am really going to miss you. But I know this is something that you have to do. I do not want to stand in the way of you doing something for the greater good. Go and help the world. I have done it far too many times. Now it's your turn to stand tall and proud in the spotlight. Go save the world. Rid it from evil. And keep the thought in mind that when you get back I will be waiting to congratulate you with even greater respect and honor than all the others. Go and remember me. That's all you need to do. Be strong and always keep me in mind. That's what I am going to have to do when you're away. That's what I've always had to do when you're away."

Draco took a deep breath.

"I don't want to go," said Draco.

"I don't want you to go either Draco," said Raya, "but I have to be strong and know that what I want doesn't always matter. I learned early in life you don't get everything you want."

"Yeah," said Draco, "but it would be so easy just not to go."

"Yes," said Raya, "it would be easy. You would be taking the easy way out. That has never been you. That shouldn't ever be you. You're too strong for that. Then after you didn't go, the guilt that you didn't stop your father when you could, would consume you until you drove yourself mad."

"But," said Draco.

"Draco!" said Raya sharply. "Are you trying to make this hard for me?"

"No," said Draco quietly, "Its just."

"I know what it just is," said Raya gently looking at him, "I'm going to miss you too."

"I don't know what I'm going to do without you there though Ray," said Draco.

"Draco! You're 17 years old!" said Raya, "you're going to have to be able to live without me someday or another."

"I don't want to," said Draco, looking at her straight in the eyes. "I never want to have to live without you. I guess I never really thought about it. I just assumed you would always be there."

"Draco," said Raya, "I will always be there. I didn't mean live completely without me, I meant for things like this. When you're away temporarily."

"But I don't think I can do it without you," said Draco.

"But I know you can," said Raya. "Draco I am so proud of you for doing this mission. Don't go with any regrets. And I will send you letters too."

"Promise?" asked Draco smiling slightly.

"Only if you promise," said Raya.

"You know you're my best friend," said Draco staring intently at her, "I would do anything for you. I would die for you."

"I know," said Raya and she met his gaze. "And I for you."

"No," said Draco, "you don't realize what you mean to me. You are everything to me. You are higher on my priority list than life itself."

"Draco," said Raya softly, "I know that you think that you're my sidekick, but you're not. Draco, I couldn't be half as strong as I am today if you weren't beside me through everything I do. You're like my life source."

"I know you're mine," said Draco, "I wouldn't be able to live with myself if anything ever happened to you."

Draco just looked into her eyes for a couple minutes and she into his.

"Don't fret Draco," said Raya, "I'll always be with you."

Raya stood up slowly and walked over to Draco and they embraced.

"And I with you," said Draco.

The portrait hole swung open and Dumbledore stepped through.

"Draco," said Dumbledore, "its time."

"Great," moaned Draco.

Raya held Draco tighter.

"I'll always believe in you Draco," said Raya, "even when you've ceased to believe in yourself."

"Draco," said Dumbledore again.

"I have to go Raya," said Draco leaning down and giving her and kiss on the top of her head.

"I know," said Raya, but it still took her a moment to let go.

"Good-b," started Draco, when (for the second time in his life) Raya put her hand over his mouth before he could finish.

"Don't you ever say good-bye to me," whispered Raya.

"I'll see you in my dreams," said Draco, sadness etched on his face.

"Not if I see you first," said Raya ands he could feel the mist begin to form in front of her eyes.

"Draco," said Dumbledore once more.

"I'm coming," said Draco almost a little too sharp.

"Love you Ray," said Draco giving her another short hug.

"Love you too," said Raya and then he walked out.

The portrait door swung closed.

Dumbledore set a quick pace down the halls and Draco has having a hard time keeping up with him.

"Come Draco," said Dumbledore, "keep up."

Draco sped up his pace.

"How are you feeling?" asked Dumbledore.

"Nervous," said Draco. "Scared. Alone." He put emphasis on the last word.

"Draco," said Dumbledore, "I know that you wish Raya was coming. But this is your mission and no one else's. You alone can bring your father down."

They opened the doors to Hogwarts and stepped into the icy dawn.

"Now," said Dumbledore, "you have the letter with the directions to the Fortress correct?"

"Correct," said Draco, checking his pockets for the sixth time.

"Just follow them and you should be fine," commented Dumbledore, "just stay out of sight."

"I will," said Draco, "when I get to the fortress what exactly will I be doing?"

"You will be talking with the Ministry for International Magic Missions," said Dumbledore, "you will talk with them about the ground rules you will have to follow in order to obtain the mission. Raya has been through this process many a times."

"Okay," said Draco, uneasily.

"You will be fine my boy," said Dumbledore, "just follow every word they say. Don't let your mind wander."

"Many will be awaking soon," said Draco, "I must leave."

"Move quick and quietly," said Dumbledore, strapping Draco's luggage to the back of the broom.

Draco swung his legs up and mounted the broom.

"Farewell," said Dumbledore, "until we meet again."

Draco nodded his head and swooped away.

Dumbledore stood still. Then he heard the large oak doors swing open and Raya came rushing outside, her robes clutched tightly around her.

"He's gone?" asked Raya already knowing the answer.

"Yes," said Dumbledore, "why?"

"He left something," said Raya.

She lifted up a picture and handed it to Dumbledore. Dumbledore looked at the picture. It was a picture of Raya and Draco when they were two years old. They were hugging each other and giving a cheesy smile to the camera. They looked so young, so small and innocent compared to the man and woman that everyone knew today.

"He brings it on every mission we go on," said Raya, "and he left it. It's his good luck charm."

"He's coming back Raya," said Dumbledore and he slowly walked into Hogwarts. Raya watched until the large wooden doors closed and then she turned back her attention in the direction Draco had flown away in.

Finally she walked back into Hogwarts and went back up to Gryffindor tower to get her things for the day. She slowly walked up the staircase to her dormitory and saw no one was there. She didn't care she wanted to be alone. She slowly picked up her things and sluggishly made her way to her first class of the day, Charms. When she got there she saw that Harry had saved her a seat next to him. She smiled to herself and walked slowly over to him.

"Hey Harry," she said softly.

"Hey Raya," said Harry, "you okay?"

"Yeah," she said quickly, "I'm fine."

"I'm sorry Draco's not here," said Harry.

Raya looked up quickly.

"How did you know about that?" asked Raya.

"We had Natalie and Phil translated the bits of conversation we could remember," said Harry timidly.

"You what?" asked Raya almost angrily.

"Sorry," said Harry, "I just knew it was important to you and I hate being left out of your life now that I know you're my sister!"

Raya was about to say something when Professor Flitwick entered the room.

"Settle down children, settle down," said Professor Flitwick. "Now today we are going to learn the charm that makes the body go numb like if you were out in the cold, similar to the freezing spell we learned in sixth year. In this spell- yes Miss Potter?"

"Is this numb spell number one or two?" asked Raya who Harry had just noticed was taking notes.

"There is only one numbing spell that I know of," said Professor Flitwick, looking unsure of hismelf.

"There are two," said Raya, "one is used in mortal combat; to weaken your opponent and the other is when you are using the spell medically, like before amputations. It is a calmer spell that does the same thing as muggle anesthetic."

"We are using the one that you described as using medically," said Professor Flitwick, looking embarrassed and also interested, "though I am very much intrigued by this numbing spell for combat use. Would you care to demonstrate?"

"Alright Professor," said Raya and she stepped down and walked to the center of the room, "what shall I demonstrate on?"

"What will it work on?" asked Professor Flitwick.

"Works best on wizard or other human look-a-likes however it has been known to work almost as well on Bogarts," replied Raya.

"Then here you are," said Professor Flitwick and he walked over to a cupboard nearby, yanked open the door, and out, as quick a lightening, flew a Bogart.

The Bogart flew viciously around the room jeering at people until he spotted Raya. Harry watched in amazement as the Bogart actually stared at her for a long time in its real form, it had taken on no shape. It looked like a person with the head of a bat and web hands and feet and wore no clothes.

"Raya Potter," breathed the Bogart.

Harry's heart hitched. He had never heard a Bogart speak before. It was so menacing and snake like that Harry had to close his eyes and just concentrate on breathing. He opened his eyes again quickly though when the Bogart spoke again.

"He's out looking," said the Bogart and the Bogart transformed.

Harry knew what most people's Bogart looked like: werewolves, Snape, Spiders, and other various creatures. But he never expected what he saw. He stared down at the shape the Bogart had taken.

His breath caught in his throat.

He was staring down at his own dead face. There he was sprawled on the ground blood dipping from the side of his mouth and there with his head on his chest was Draco with blood all over him. Both eyes glazed over and seemed to stare off into nothingness. Their skin was as pale as the snowy exterior of the grounds. Both looked so life like that Harry grabbed his arms to make sure it wasn't him.

Then Raya took out her arm shakily and shouted "Nedius Nuymbe!"

The spell hit but not before it changed shape once more.

This time it again to the form of two people. Only this time Harry was nowhere to be found. Draco's father was standing across from Draco. And this was the first Bogart he had ever seen that talked out the fear; a fear that spoke.

"Draco," said Lucius standing tall over his son, "protecting the Potter girl? It's too late for her now. Out of my way."

"No!" said Draco, "I can't let you passed."

"You're no son of mine," said Lucius and he shoved Draco back onto the ground; hard.

"And glad of it," said Draco, slowly standing up and pointing his wand at his father, "its time for me to do what I came here to do."

Lucius smiled and as quick as anything he took out his wand as well.

"Say good-bye to your girlfriend," said Lucius, "Avada Kedavra!"

The green light spurted from the fake wand and shout straight and Draco's chest. Draco screamed. He screamed a word. A name. He screamed Raya.

Raya screamed "Draco!" and covered her mouth as the Bogart Draco fell to the floor in a still silence. The Bogart Lucius was laughing menacingly.

"All that trouble for a silly little girl," said Lucius, "my, my, Draco, you really were a simpleton."

Raya sank slowly to her knees. Professor Flitwick came up behind the Bogart and it immediately transformed into a giant cliff and said, "Ridiculus!"

The cliff shrunk to the size of an ant and the Bogart fled back towards the cupboard from whence it came. But before it could reach the cupboard a shout was heard, "Nedius Nuymbe!"

The purple and green sparks flew out of the tip of Raya's wand and hit the Bogart square in the back of the head. The Bogart started shivering fiercely and seemed to be confused because it kept bumping into things and couldn't seem to find the way into the cupboard though it stood right in front of him.

"Miss Potter?" asked Professor timidly. "Are you alright, dear?"

"Of course professor," said Raya steadily, however Harry could see her quivering, "I'll be fine."

Raya walked over to her seat and sat down and began scribbling notes. Finally after Professor Flitwick had taught everyone the spell and practiced it on little mice (after teaching them the counter spell), it was time for the end of class. Most everyone was already packed and immediately began filing out of the room almost mechanically. Raya, who had been too busy showing Professor Flitwick her notes of the Numbing Spell for Combat Use, did not have her things packed so she began slowly putting everything away.

"Raya?" asked Harry who had stayed rooted to his seat after the bell rang, telling everyone to go on without them.

"Yes?" she asked staring up at him with her deep blue eyes.

"The Bogart turns into your worst fear," said Harry.

"I am quite aware of that," said Raya.

"But I saw me on the floor with Draco, dead," said Harry.

"And if you would put two and two together you would get it," said Raya, "my worst fear is you and/or Draco dying."

"But what about you?" asked Harry, "don't you worrying about you dying?"

"No," said Raya, "I do not fear death. And I do not fear pain. I only fear for those around me."

"There must be something that you fear for yourself," said Harry, "Everyone does. I fear me dying. I fear being put to ultimate pain, like crucius."

"I only fear for others," said Raya standing up and offering Harry a hand.

"You know before you came along things were so much easier," said Harry as they walked out of the classroom.

"Thank you very much," said Raya sarcastically.

"No," said Harry, "that's not what I mean."

"Then what do you mean?" asked Raya.

"I've never had someone to worry about like this before, It's weird just all of a sudden having someone you care about just thrown into your life for the first time. I mean, I never thought I could love someone so much that I just met."

Raya smiled and said, "I can't really say the same. I've known you forever."

"Hey," said Harry, "I've been meaning to ask you something."

"Yes?" asked Raya.

"Draco said you were there when Sirius died, but you were miles away and couldn't do anything about it," said Harry, "what did he mean?"

"I was speaking with my friend Lyra from Novia," said Raya, "I was worried about Sirius and asked her to share her power of Sight to see him wherever he was. I saw him in combat with Bellatrix and I saw him dead."

Before she could continue her story two owls swooped throw tow open windows near them. One landed on Raya's left shoulder the other on the right. One was a brown barn owl the nuzzled her affectionately and the other a grand and regal white owl that stood straight up and alert.

"Kyra," said Raya and the softly scratched the brown barn owl's head, "this is Lyra's owl."

Raya took the letter from the talons of the owl. The letter was in an off white envelope with a red wax seal on the other side. She slowly opened the letter and began to read it. She read aloud:

Dear Raya,

I have just been received your letter and sent you a reply at once. You may come when the full moon has risen three times. I would have you come sooner, we need your help, but we cannot reassure you a save trip until three months. We would rather have you be safe than help us fight. We are saving Lyam burial service for your arrival. Will Draco be coming too? Of course he will, that's a silly question to ask. We have already made up your rooms. I am happy that you and Harry are finally together again, as every family should. Will he be coming as well? I have also heard in your letter about your five other friends. Whether they are coming or not we have set up eight rooms that we could spare. My father sends his greetings to you and hopes that you have a good three moons And stay safe.

Your friend and ally,
Lyra

She read the letter than folded it up neatly and placed it in a pocket of her robes. She then took the letter from the talons of the regal, white owl. She looked at the back and saw the wax seal. She held her breath and looked up at Harry.

"I'll be right be back," said Raya and she ran up to Gryffindor Tower and up passed the students in the common room and into the seventh year girls dormitory, relieved to find that nobody was there. She ran to her bed and pulled the hangings tightly closed. She looked back at the seal.

The seal was identical to the mark that Draco bore on his arm. It was from Draco. She smiled. He had been away from less than a couple hours and he had already written her. She loved him for it. She opened the letter hastily and began to read:

Dear Ray,

It's wicked here Ray! But I would be a lot better if you were here. I promised that I would write so here is my letter. The journey was pleasant enough. I left my picture. Our special picture. I was really upset. But I decided that it would be even better if you kept it. To remind yourself of me. I am going to a council meeting today about what course of action we plan to take. But enough about me. How are you? Are you all right? Anyone hurt? Anyone sick? Injured? Tell me everything that's happened since to moment I left. And I mean everything! Nothing really exciting has happened here yet. I hate being apart from you. I wish you could have come. I asked, but Dumbledore said no. A little tidbit, I'm mad at him for that! Well I hope your okay and everything's running smoothly. And don't worry about me. I'm okay. I just want to make sure you are. Besides I made a promise that I would never let anything happen to you. Even when I am away. I have to go. They're are summoning me to the council. And remember; A part of you has grown in me, and so you see, it's you and me together forever. Never apart, maybe in distance, but never in heart.

Draco

Raya smiled and she pulled open a drawer of her nightstand and pulled out a fresh sheet of parchment. And she answered every one of Draco's questions and sent the regal owl away with the letter clutched tightly in his grasp.

Tear, tear Draco left! I hope you liked the chapter. Sorry it took me so long to post.