Author's note: Last chapter of the story. Yes, I know I promised two more but I decided to include the last one in the sequel.
I would really like to thank all the readers for reading 'The DA Core' and reviewing it every time. Frankly, I didn't think that the story would have been this successful. Thank you for all the follows, reviews and favourites I got for the story.
Sequel Notice: I've decided to write a sequel for this story but I'll continue it in DA Core since it's the continuation and I cannot separate it from this story. So the next chapter will be a notice stating the name of the sequel, summary, characters and disclaimer.
There will NOT be a separate story for the sequel but I'll continue posting it in this story itself. Hope I didn't confuse you guys.
The Founder: Thank you for your review.
LizTerry: Thank you for your review. And yes, I'm writing a sequel. Yay!
Ihaveasandbox: Absolutely! Thank you for your review.
Maesde: Yes, he is and I love him a lot for that. Hehe! Thanks a lot for your review!
: Thank you for your review. It really meant a lot.
Legionary Prime: Thank you for the review. Hope you like this chapter as well.
LifeonEarth: Thank you for the review. And yes I'm writing a sequel to this story!
Just another ginge: Thank you for the review. I'm glad that you liked that chapter and I hope you like this one as well.
Cosmyk Angel: yes, I know but this is Harry we are talking about. Thank you for the review. Enjoy this chapter as well!
Harry did not go to the Gryffindor common room instead he turned a corner at the last moment and sat on the cold steps near the window of seventh floor corridor. He didn't realize how long he sat there except he knew he was there for a long time because his backside was cold and had gone numb.
He gazed out of the window; the sun was just setting, causing shadowy black figures to roam across the grounds giving the hint of enemy intrusion. He averted his gaze from the window and instead looked at his shadow. His mind was drifting back to the war and he wanted a diversion. He stared fixedly at the black silhouette which sat there unmoving like him.
The appearance of another shadow over his made him look up. Hermione was slowly making her way towards him. He shifted his eyes from her and looked out of the window once again. Hermione didn't say anything but sat down beside him, her shadow mixing up with Harry's.
"Umm…" she finally began. "…the death toll was somewhere around fifteen, mostly Aurors."
Harry looked ahead of him again and fixed his gaze on the stone wall in front of him.
"And…a…umm…everyone's alright as you know. They let Remus out of the St Mungo's yesterday eve.
Harry nodded mutely again.
"Daily Prophet let the dates of the captured Death Eaters' trials out, its…it's next week. Mainly procedural work is going on right now." She said looking at Harry.
Harry nodded again but didn't say anything.
"Dumbledore's taking care of everything at the Ministry since people are not believing in Fudge anymore." Hermione tried again to get any response from Harry but he merely nodded again.
"Harry, are you fine?" she asked, her forehead creasing in worry.
"Yes. I'm good." He said finally, his voice a bit hoarse from not using it for long.
"Can…can I ask you something Harry? Will you answer me?" Hermione asked fidgeting with her skirt.
"If I can, I surely will Hermione." Harry answered.
"Do you believe in evil?" she asked slowly, eyeing him nervously.
Harry stared at the stone wall again. He took his time to think about it. Did he believe in evil? Did he believe that something as bad as Death Eaters exist in this world? Did he believe that something more worse than Voldemort lies somewhere buried deep into the mysteries of the universe?
"No." he said at last when Hermione was sure she wasn't going to get any answer from him. But his answer shocked her.
"How can you not Harry? I mean…then what are Death Eaters if they are not evil? There is so much evil in this world." Hermione asked bewildered.
"There is no evil in the world Hermione." Harry said turning to face her. "The world is not merely divided between the light and the evil, no. There is no Death Eater, no evil in this world. Whatever it is, is inside us and what we choose to act upon becomes who we are. You choose Voldemort, you become Death Eater, and you become evil. You choose to be against him, you do not."
Hermione thought about what Harry said and she took her time to digest it. Harry took to staring at the opposite wall again.
"Can I ask you something else?" she asked when she was sure Harry's previous answer was well digested. Harry nodded again.
"Aren't you scared of death?" she said slowly again and Harry's head whipped to face her in a flash. "I mean…when you are standing in front of him, don't you get scared? One mistake and everything you love and know will be left behind forever."
"Yes." Harry replied in a small voice. "I think about it a lot too, more than I should anyways and it creeps the hell out of me. Every night when I go to bed, that's the only thought in my mind. It scares me a lot but when I'm standing in front of him? No, not then. Because I know if I die then it will be a sacrifice, like my parents did for me. It will be for a better cause. I'm not scared of him then."
Hermione nodded mutely and looked ahead of her.
"Where did you send the Slytherins?" she asked. Harry had told nobody where he had sent the Slytherins. He had kept it to himself.
"They are safe. I'll visit them during the holiday and maybe I'll take you and Ron along as well." Harry replied.
"Okay." She said in a small voice. "Do you really think the school won't reopen again?"
"I don't think so. A lot has happened this year. I wouldn't be surprised if the Governor's decided to close this school till Voldemort's death." Harry still hadn't made eye contact with Hermione.
"Will you return then, if it reopens?" she asked, thinking about how weird till be, to not come to Hogwarts again.
"I don't think so Hermione. I have to defeat him till he is weak. And I don't think being in school will offer me that much of an opportunity." Harry knew he had to get over this Voldemort's rein and being in school was going to restrict him from going after him.
"You don't believe in Dumbledore anymore?" Hermione whispered as if afraid if her words actually reached her ears Harry would say yes.
"I do Hermione, I always will. I don't know how many times I have said that to people but Dumbledore is the only man who I trust right now. He is my greatest asset and I believe in him more than I do in myself." Harry finally made eye contact with Hermione and saw his own self reflected in her wide chocolate brown orbs.
"You just met him, didn't you?" Hermione asked still staring into the shiny emerald ones.
Harry simply nodded and tore his gaze away from her.
"He cares for you a lot Harry." She said trying to reassure Harry of whatever was going on in his mind.
Harry nodded again. "I trust the man I know, I don't know what others think about him but I know him, behind that wise self, there is a very emotional state which I think I got to see today and I cannot deny he does not care for me."
Hermione wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him. Harry welcomed the warm feeling that radiated off Hermione. Her hugs always gave him a feeling of family.
"You know Hermione, when you hug me this way; you make me feel at home, I mean that family feeling." Harry said as he tightened his arms around her.
"I'm your family Harry and Ron too." she whispered.
"Yes I am." Ron's voice sounded from behind them and they turned to see him standing with his arms crossed across his chest.
"Hey Ron." Hermione greeted him.
"Talk about family and forget me?" He wiggled his eyes and Harry smiled at him. "Don't be a girl." He said and patted on the cold stone floor to his right.
Ron sat with a thump and let out an 'uff' when the very cold floor made contact his back side. The coldness caught Ron off guard. "You could have warned me you know?" he said pushing Harry as he straightened his legs in front of him.
"No ways. You didn't warm me last time when Filch caught me and gave me a week's detention." Harry said a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"But that was in second year Harry." Ron said horrified.
"Boys stop it." Hermione said before Harry could retort back.
The trio sat in silence for some time. The time ticked away yet the three did not move. It was like they had found solace in that silence of the night.
"So what's next?" Ron was the first one to speak in half an hour.
"I don't know. But I'm not returning to Hogwarts." Harry said as he shook his legs a bit to get the numbness out of them.
"Alright. How are we going to convince mom about this?" Ron asked looking at Harry now.
"We?" Harry asked shocked that Ron wanted to go with him.
"You mean you were going to go alone? Stop kidding Harry; I'm in no mood for jokes. So thought about it? Mom will be frantic about us not completing our education."
"Do you guys…" he looked at Ron and then at Hermione, "…plan to go with me? I mean I'm not going anywhere but still…"
"Whatever Harry." Hermione said. "We are staying with you, in or outside Hogwarts."
"Yeah, it was a transparent, non-verbal contract that we signed with you when we decided to become friends in the first year." Ron smiled and Harry suddenly had a flash back of a first year Ron smiling at him from across his seat in the Hogwarts Express.
"And I bet Neville and Luna will want to come too." Hermione added.
"That will be their choice then." Harry said.
"But what are we going to do then? If we don't come back here?" Ron asked, creasing his forehead.
"What the Order has been doing for the last twenty six years, fight the Death Eaters and Voldemort but in our own way." Harry said smiling at the idea.
"Restructuring the DA?" Hermione asked falling for one of Harry's plans again.
"I think this time the DA Core will be enough, what say?" Harry wiggled his eyebrows at both of them as he waited for them to answer.
Ron rolled his eyes. "Whatever you plan mate, we are with you no matter how much horrible your plan will be."
"Hey!" Harry said he smacked Ron on his head. Ron laughed as Hermione shook her head.
"When are we starting with…whatever you have in mind?" Hermione asked ignoring Ron's attack on Harry.
"When we get out of here and meet with our Slytherin heroes." Harry said he fell from the steps with a much red Ron still attacking him.
"Alright c'mon, let's get back. Neville and Luna must be waiting for us." Hermione said she stood up and looked at the two boys on the floor with disapproval.
Finally Harry and Ron got p and dusted their clothes. "We need to tell them about our plans." Hermione said snuggling between the two boys to stop them from fighting again.
"Alright." Harry said finally giving Hermione some place. Ron laughed as he draped his arm across Hermione.
"Leave him out." He said and pushed Hermione towards Harry. Harry staggered a bit and pushed Hermione with all his strength. Ron now staggered and bumped on the stone pillar.
"Hey!" he shouted. But before he could push Hermione towards Harry, she had her wand in her hand daring him to push her again. Harry snickered as Ron straightened up.
"I'll see you Potter." Ron said smiling.
"Sure Weasley." Harry said as the trio headed for the Gryffindor tower.
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Done! Short chapter, I know. Hope you guys like it.
From the next chapter onwards it's going to be the sequel to 'The DA Core.'
Next chapter: Notice regarding the sequel.