Not much to say, other than sorry for the wait. Just enjoy the chapter, everyone, and please please please review!
Disclaimer: Well... I own posters, pictures, and the books... does that count?
It Ends Now
Part 24: "Death"
The middle of December was just as cold and snowy as the beginning of the month had been, albeit the castle had gotten warmer as Dumbledore had activated a powerful warming spell that acted much like a couple hundred heaters. It was in this soothing atmosphere that Harry slouched on the couch yawning, casted and slinged arm hanging limply to his side. Covered by his school clothes, the bandages round his chest and upper stomach area were wrapped. However, the wounds they hid were considerably better looking, and as one Madam Pomfrey had commented, better enough that the bandages would soon be able to come off.
Harry was happy, and the prospect of more Occlumency practice later tonight was like a cherry on a delicious sundae. The day had been a good one, and the Boy-Who-Lived had even gotten all his homework done before two o'clock in the morning, for once.
The boy was interrupted from his watch of the fireplace's dancing flames by a hand on his shoulder. He looked up at Ron, who was beaming. Secretly, the red head cheered when Harry didn't flinch at his touch. Finally, the twitching and fear was subsiding, as Pomfrey had promised.
Harry was home now, he was safe, and the trauma of Voldemort's torture was finally, finally leaving.
"What're you doing?"
"Contemplating the meaning of life," Harry wryily responded, rolling his eyes. "What does it look like?"
"It looks like you're majorly bored."
"Nah, actually, I'm enjoying my evening without homework!"
Ron sank down next to the plump, comfy armchair. "Speak for yourself."
"Where's Hermione?"
"Where else? The library, finishing her homework."
Harry made a non-committal noise, eyes moving back to the enticing flames as they licked the top of the fireplace. He sat like that for a little bit, before Ron broke the peaceful silence.
"Do you have Occlumency tonight?"
"Yes. But that's not for an hour."
Ron snorted. "And I suppose you're just going to stare into the fire for an hour?"
Harry made a face at him. "No, I just don't know what to do."
"Ah, so you are bored!"
"Shut up," Harry sniffed, reminding even himself of Hermione when she was miffed.
"I know what you could do. You could talk to Remus on that mirror!" Ron exclaimed. Harry smiled at him and nodded. He hadn't had a nice conversation with Remus since the Hospital Wing, and it was always enjoyable to chat with him. The werewolf always brightened Harry's day with enticing stories of the Marauder's glorious days, when pranks and escaping detention were the highest of their worries.
"I think I will. See you, Ron!"
Ron just waved him away, then stole the boy's firelight chair.
Harry entered the deserted dormitory and immediately plopped onto the bed. He stared at the hangings for a moment, then rolled over and retrieved the aged mirror from his trunk. The seeker held the mirror close, breath fogging the glass and his reflection.
"Remus Lupin."
The reflection shimmered, to be replaced with the haggard and tired as ever Remus Lupin.
"Hello, Harry."
Harry rolled back onto his back and rested his head against the pillow, holding the mirror slightly above his head.
"Hi. I was bored and decided to talk to you. What's been going on?"
Remus' face was closely guarded. "Not much."
"What about with the Order? Surely you've been doing work for them. Are you still working amongst the werewolves?"
"Yes and no, Harry. I was doing it on a frequent level before, but it seems that the werewolves are not wavering. They do not want to be members of the Light, and they follow their leader's wishes. Voldemort may have already made an alliance with the head wolf. I've been trying to persuade those few who don't agree with Voldemort to join our side- those who became a werewolf by accident- but they are afraid. I don't think we will find hope among them," Remus explained, voice tight and tired, as if he'd been to hell and back in the space of a night.
"So, what else has the Order been doing, if the werewolf movement has failed?"
"What we always have done. Fight the Death Eaters, and try to uncover any plots or spies within our daily work... more precisely, in the Ministry."
Remus sighed as he said this, and his eyes grew dim. Harry noticed this with concern, and asked, "Remus, are you feeling alright?"
"Fine, Harry, just... a hard day."
"Was there a Death Eater seige?" Harry guessed, observing Remus' face as it went blank, like a mask. It was the face Snape always wore, and Harry knew Remus must be hiding something.
Remus pinched his lips together, as if reluctant to answer. However, Harry spoke before he could. "What's wrong?"
"What? Harry, nothing's wrong, of course!" the former Defense Against the Dark Arts professor firmly placated, but Harry was quick to admonish him.
"Yes, there is. You usually aren't so guarded. What's wrong?" he asked again. "Has something happened?"
"Harry, you know I-"
"Please, Remus! Don't give me the 'I can't tell you because you're too young' speech. This affects me too; I'm just as involved in the Order as its members are! Maybe more so because of my experience, and the prophecy. If something has happened, I need to know."
"A-alright," the werewolf gave in, albeit with reluctancy all over his features. "But first of all, I don't want you to go and blame yourself in any way-"
"Why would I blame myself?"
Remus bit his lip and Harry could tell he was having an internal battle as to whether to disclose his knowledge to Harry or not. Harry began getting impatient and frustrated.
"Just tell me!"
"There was a Death Eater attack on Diagon Alley today," Remus said quickly, averting his eyes.
Harry raised a skeptical brow. "Why would I blame myself over that? The Death Eaters attack all the time now. Was... anyone hurt?"
Remus didn't say anything, but his sorrow-twisted face was more than enough confirmation for the Boy-Who-Lived.
"No... Remus?"
Harry felt cold dread filling his insides as he sat up, bringing the mirror close to his face. His eyes were fearful and knowing, and Remus regretted ever saying anything. But it was too late to stop now. Harry would find out eventually anyways.
"Harry, the Order has been very lucky up until now. We all knew... something like this would happen sooner or later. We knew, when we took the oath, that we were risking our lives just joining. But it was a choice we all made, and everyone was well aware of the consequences."
"Remus," Harry whimpered, so afraid of the answer as his mouth formed, "Who?"
"Hestia Jones and Dedalus Diggle."
Harry squeezed his eyes shut, forcing the coppery taste on his tongue and burning nausea away. In his mind, he recalled the faces of the two dead.
Dedalus Diggle, the happy-go-lucky, sometimes too enthusiastic wizard that had first shaken Harry's hand in the street back before Harry knew anything about magic or Hogwarts. Also the one who had so excitedly come to his uncle and aunt's house during fifth year summer. He was so innocent; so full of life.
He did not deserve to die.
Neither had Hestia Jones. The pink-cheeked, black-haired witch had also been part of the Advance Guard fifth year, and she had always been so nice to Harry. It was terrible that such a brave person had to die for this cause.
For his cause.
Remus saw the look Harry had on his face, recognizing it for what it was almost instantly. "You shouldn't blame yourself, Harry. I knew I shouldn't have told you."
"I would have found out anyway. And how can I not blame myself? The Death Eaters are killing on Voldemort's orders. And Voldemort is still alive because of me. I was too weak, too stupid to not try and kill him a couple weeks ago!"
"Stop that, Harry! It's not your fault Wormtail-"
"Wormtail!?"
A bit of color left Remus' cheeks and his ears turned red, almost collecting the hue as he muttered, "Damn."
"Remus, what does Wormtail have to do with this?"
Remus looked away from Harry and the screen, and at something the boy couldn't see.
"I didn't want to tell you, Harry, but now..." he sighed. "Wormtail killed Hestia and Dedalus."
Harry felt hot rage boil up and lick at his insides, like a caged fire consuming his bones. "Damn him!"
"I'm sorry."
"How could he... ARGH!" Harry struggled to speak as pure fury flooded him, making it hard to talk or even breath. Wormtail, the spineless rat, had killed again!
"I'm going to kill him," the seeker growled, but stopped when Remus' eyes went wide and alarmed.
"No, you aren't! You are going to stay right there, Harry! Don't do something stupid you will regret later, please Harry..."
"I want to get rid of the rat! For good, so he can't kill anymore, like I should have done in third year!"
"So do I, Harry, but you don't see me running off on a bout of anger and with a half-formulated plan! Leave Death Eater hunting to us, Harry. The Order can track Wormtail down easier than you can, and are more prepared when it comes to dueling. Don't do anything brash," Remus warned.
Harry slumped against the pillows, finally deflating. He was suddenly very tired all of the sudden.
This must be how Remus always feels, the boy thought sadly. No wonder.
"I won't. I'm just... in shock. And angry."
"We all are. But we knew as Order members that something like this was going to happen sooner or later."
Harry smiled wistfully. "Just not so soon."
Silence descended between the two, and Harry checked his watch. It was time to start heading to Dumbledore's.
"I have to go. Occlumency lesson."
"Take care, Harry. Practice hard. I'm always here to talk," Remus promised, before he cut the connection. Harry stuffed his trans-way mirror away, then headed off to the Headmaster's office.
oOo
"Come in, Harry," Albus Dumbledore's wizened voice called, before Harry even knocked. Said Chosen One pushed open the door and greeted a cordial but lacking, 'Good evening, sir' before moving into position.
The Headmaster smiled. "Eager to begin today, are we? Alright then. Legilimens!"
Harry held him off for a little bit, but only half-heartedly. His overloading mind just wasn't into it today, and it was still reeling from Remus' revelation.
After a second time of this, Dumbledore lowered his wand and gave Harry a searching sweep of his blue eyes.
"Your mind seems to be somewhere else tonight. Would you like to share?"
"I heard about... about what happened today," Harry broached. Dumbledore sighed and moved around his desk to sit down tiredly. Harry remained standing. He didn't feel he could sit right now.
"Yes, I assumed you'd find out. You always do." His voice was sad and old.
"Is it true? Wormtail did it?"
Harry needed the confirmation from the man in front of him. His word would make it final.
"I'm sorry. It's true, however much I wish it wasn't."
Harry clenched his teeth together and felt his hands unconsciously curl into fists... fists he very much wished he could pummel Wormtail with. His raw, angry magic made the spindly silver instruments rattle and tremble on their perches, but Harry didn't seem to notice.
"I hate him," he growled in a whisper, voice scarily venomous and loathe-filled.
Dumbledore made no movement when he saw his possessions shaking, but replied calmly, "Hate is a very strong word, Harry."
"I can't help it! He's evil and deserves to die!"
"Does he? Does any person deserve such a price, even if they have done terrible things? It is not our place to say such things, dear boy. You are forgetting there is good in every human."
"And what about Voldemort? Are you saying he doesn't deserve such a price?"
"Voldemort is not even human anymore. His soul is in tatters; he cannot even comprehend what love is anymore. He has distanced himself from all semblance of good, and is so far gone from being called 'human'. He does not even have the ability to feel love or compassion," Dumbledore explained. "Wormtail, however, is a confused man lead on by a darkness too strong for him to fight. But he is still human; he still feels regret; doubt; sorrow. Even if he has forgotten love, it is not yet lost. You forget he still has a Wizard's Debt with you, and such a powerful bond is not erased until it is fufilled. Do not judge him yet; for you may find that one day, he will be your only hope in a terrible situation. He could even save your life, so I would not say such things without remembering that Peter Pedigrew is still a man, and men are famous for making mistakes... but also, fixing them."
Although Harry held much respect for the old wizard seated in front of him, he found he couldn't disagree more.
Because as the Headmaster talked, Harry silently grumbled on and on about how he wished he hadn't saved Peter's life that day... he wished he'd let the dementors have the rat, then all of this would never happened and Hestia and Dedalus would still be alive.
But fate doesn't work that way, and all wars are not without a price.
A/N: Thank you to all my reviewers, and it would be nice to get some more next time!
THANK YOU TO:
jayley: Well, a little of both. Drama first, then some action :-) Thanks for reviewing and glad you liked the trauma!
shannyauburn: Thank you and I will be updating ASAP! Enjoy!
Alicea: Well, in this story, the wards went down because Harry left the Dursley property, AKA the protection wards. I was just thinking that if dementors could get to Harry away from the house, perhaps Voldemort could too. Of course, it probably wouldn't happen in the books, but hey, it makes for some good excitement! And thank you :-D
TwilightsCalling: I agree, I hate fics like that! Harry is just as human as us, so he isn't going to be Super-Harry and heal in a few days. Glad you liked that and I look foward to your emails and reviews!
Haunted: Harry's strong, and he hates the Hospital Wing :-D. Don't we all? Thanks so much!! Look foward to your PMs too.
lilacBookstar: Thanks! Glad you enjoyed that; I thought it would make for fun read and so it's not like he's Super-Harry or something. Thanks very much again and hope you enjoy!
Review, readers!
Yours truely,
AngelMoon Girl