Harry Potter and the Battle of Hogwarts

Harry Potter and the Battle of Hogwarts

Disclaimer- I don't own Harry Potter and never will.

OoOoO

Chapter Five

New Revelations

It was the next morning at breakfast and the small group of friends was incredibly tired. They had stayed up late the night before, talking about the possibility of them all becoming Animagi. Harry, for one, was feeling extremely excited and nervous. He would be following in his father and godfather's footsteps by becoming an Animagus, and that was enough for him to burst with joy. But what if he failed or he couldn't become an Animagus? He had heard of witches and wizards who did not have an animal inside them therefore they could not undertake the procedures that leads to them being able to change into an animal at will.

The thought of this made Harry squirm with nerves. Hermione was, as always, searching all her books for any information on Animagi. She thought Harry's idea was very educational but definitely illegal. She had suggested to them that if they were able to become Animagi, that they should register in the Ministry. This did not go down too well and she hadn't brought the subject up again.

“What's up with you lot?” Sirius asked as he poured himself some coffee. Harry looked up from his arms to see Ginny resting her head on her elbow, staring into space and Ron sprawled on the table, snoring loudly. Hermione was sitting next to him and she had her head resting on his shoulder, her eyelids sagging.

“Just t - tired...” Harry said, yawning loudly. “Didn't you get any sleep last night?” Sirius asked again, raising one eyebrow while sipping his steaming drink.

“Some,” Ginny mumbled before cursing as her hair fell into the butter dish. Harry chuckled, remembering when the girl had stuck her elbow in the butter a few years ago because Harry had asked her something.

“Some or none?” Harry's godfather said.

“Tell the spiders to go away!” Ron suddenly shouted, interrupting their conversation. All of them looked at each other before cracking up laughing. Ron awoke to their teary eyes and wide grins and looked at them strangely.

“What did I miss?” He asked.

OoO

During the day, Grimmauld Place had many visitors. Many Order Members stopped by to see Sirius with their own eyes and hear his story first hand. And Harry realized, with a grin, that Sirius was loving the attention. He was on his ninth telling of the tale and his side of the events had changed dramatically.

It now involved Sirius having to fight off the zombie - creatures of the afterlife and his own desperate flight to freedom. Harry just shook his head as Sirius gave him a sly wink and continued on, explaining about his duel with the Grim Reaper.

It was just after Lunch and Harry and the others were sitting in the courtyard at the back of Grimmauld Place. It was a small stone place, with ten foot walls caging them in. A thorn bush was crawling up the high walls and along the cracked ground. Small tufts of grass stuck up through the cement pavers, along with more thorns and dead Rose bushes.

Harry sat with Hermione on a long, marble bench, stained with muck from all the years. Ron was lying on a lopsided table, his eyes closed wearily while Ginny sat with her knees under her chin on a toadstool-like seat made from a dark rock.

They sat in a comfortable silence, listening to the birds singing in the empty park across the street and enjoying the soft breeze blowing their hair. Harry wasn't sure exactly how the breeze could blow into the courtyard, but didn't question the gentle air currents cooling his face. Because, on the outside, he had a calm, collected face, with a peaceful gaze.

But beneath the surface, he was in turmoil. Many different emotions and thoughts were running quickly through his mind, threatening to take over completely. One main thought stood out above the rest because this was the real reason he had brought the others out here. Should he or shouldn't he tell them about the prophecy?

Dumbledore hadn't said he couldn't tell anyone about it, but Harry was sure he wasn't meant to tell heaps of people. Only those he trusted. And he trusted Ron, Hermione and Ginny with his life. But he didn't know if he should burden them with his problems.

Plus, the less they knew the better. If Voldemort really wanted to hear the prophecy, what was going to stop him from torturing that information out of his friends? And wouldn't it just make them pity him even more? He hated pity and sympathy because their was no real use for it. Why would someone want another person to feel sorry for them? They had themselves for that.

But they had told him not to keep things form him. Harry had learnt that last year. And he knew how frustrating it was when someone kept information from him. It made him feel unprepared and vulnerable.

So, if he told them the prophecy, what would happen? Would they all stare at him in horror and tell him they don't want to be friends anymore, because they feared they would be killed? Harry hoped that was what they would do, if he was them, he would do exactly that.

But somewhere in his heart, Harry knew that they wouldn't desert him even if he pleaded them to. They would stick by him right to the end. That was what frightened him. They would want to be with him up until he fought Voldemort and even try to stick by him when he faced that red-eyed monster. Harry didn't want them to do that. He would rather they were locked up in Hogwarts with no way of escaping. That would make him feel a little better, knowing they were safe from harm.

So, should he or shouldn't he? He was forced from his thoughts by a hand on his shoulder and a concerned voice asking him if he was okay. Harry looked over to Hermione, who was watching him closer with concern in her deep brown eyes. He smiled at her and marveled at how much real concern was framed in her gaze. Harry pushed down an unfamiliar feeling in his chest and nodded blankly at her.

“I'm -” He had about to say fine, but was he really? That dreaded prophecy swam in front of his vision and he furrowed his brow in frustration. “I'm not sure how I feel.” He answered truthfully. Ginny and Ron looked up at his words, both their eyes showing confusion and worry.

“You haven't been yourself lately, mate.” Ron said, propping himself up on his elbows.

“Would you be yourself after witnessing your godfather dying to find him alive and well a couple of weeks later in your house?” Harry asked, wincing at the sharpness of his words. Hermione's grip on his arm loosened slightly, but she kept her hand there.

“No, it's not just that. There's something else, isn't there? I've noticed it to.” She said carefully. Harry was briefly puzzled by that strange look in her eyes. What was that? Was it care? No it was stronger than that. Then maybe concern? But he had seen that in her eyes before and this wasn't it. But he didn't have time to ponder this further as more unwanted thoughts popped up in his mind.

The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches...

“Well, yes, there is something else...” How was he meant to tell them? Hermione squeezed his arm encouragingly.

“Go on,” she murmured, nodding her head slowly. As Harry looked into her eyes, he found the strength he needed. Taking a deep breath, and with those dreaded words running through his head, he repeated the prophecy entirely. It had been forever scorched into his brain, lingering there like a shadow after his mind.

“The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches ... born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies ... and the Dark Lord with mark him as his equal, but he will have powers the Dark Lord knows now ...and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives ... the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies ...”

The silence was so thick that the singing of the birds seemed incredibly loud. No one dared move as Harry watched their faces waiting for their expected reactions. Hermione's nails were digging into his flesh but he didn't care. The pain made him feel somehow more alive. A minute dragged into two and soon ten had passed. Still no one moved.

Ron was staring at him with a blank face and wide eyes; their blue much darker than Harry had ever seen them. Ginny was staring at him with a creased forehead but her mouth was hanging open in ... was it astonishment?

And still Hermione's claw-like fingers were tight around his arm and he turned his face to hers. She was staring at him, her brown eyes burning into his green. Her face had gone pale and her hair limp around her head. Her dark eyes were shining with unshed tears and Harry noticed the sudden appearance of pain and understanding standing out in them. Her grip loosened and moved down to his hand where she squeezed it tightly. Harry returned it and tore his eyes away from hers.

“That - that means that...what does that mean?” Ron stuttered, breaking the thick silence with his shaking voice. Harry would have laughed at Ron's choice of words, had the situation been less serious.

Harry opened his mouth to answer but Hermione beat him to it.

“It means that Harry is the only one with the power to destroy Voldemort.” Her voice, startlingly, was strong. Harry nodded and met each of their eyes in turn. And he saw the same thing in each of them: fear.

“Bloody hell...” Ginny murmured, still staring at Harry as if he was Salazar Slytherin incarnated.

“How long have you known this?” Hermione asked softly, that unknown emotion back in her eyes. Harry smiled grimly.

“Since the day Sirius supposedly died.” He answered. He still hadn't forgiven Dumbledore for that.

“When you left the Ministry,” Ginny said suddenly, finally shutting her mouth. “Dumbledore must have told you when you Portkeyed to his office. That was harsh!” She added, an angry scowl distorting her delicate features.

“Yeah, I know. That's why I haven't been exactly friendly with our dear headmaster lately.” Harry said. Hermione furrowed her brow but said nothing. Instead she reached out with her one free hand and touched his scar, whispering, “The Dark Lord will mark him as his equal...” Harry nodded numbly, acutely aware of the tingles running down his spine at her touch.

“...But he will have powers that Dark Lord knows not...” Ginny said again, her eyebrows together in concentration.

“What powers are they?” Ron asked his voice now a little stronger. Harry shrugged, tearing his eyes away from Hermione. “I wish I knew.” He answered, weakly shaking his head.

“Don't worry,” Hermione said, once again squeezing his hand and moving closer to him. “We'll help you in anyway we can.” She was now sitting right beside him, with their sides together as if they were joined. Harry sighed and looked down at their intertwined fingers and mumbled, “That's what I was afraid of.”

OoO

They were now at dinner and they were once more silent. Sirius and Lupin were watching them closely, sharing confused looks. Harry was idly forking his potato, making it look like a lumpy, white mess. Hermione was watching the table with what seemed like interest, but her eyes were filled with worry. Ron, usually a big eater, was occasionally nibbling his bread roll or taking a sip of his Butterbeer. Ginny was pretending to read the newspaper, but she constantly looked over to Harry with a pain-filled gaze.

Harry ignored them all, instead tuning into his own thoughts while playing with his food.

“Are we missing something here?” Remus asked, breaking the tense silence with his humorous voice. The teenagers looked over at him once before all looking to Harry who continued to stare at his demolished potatoes. “Okay...” Lupin said, looking to Sirius with a confused gaze. But Sirius was watching Harry intently with worry lines creasing his forehead. Remus had only seen that look on his face on one occasion: when James had been seriously hurt or ill.

“Harry, are you okay?” Sirius asked, his voice laced with worry and concern. Harry looked up at him and Remus stopped breathing for a minute. Harry's eyes, once bright and innocent, were shadowed with darkness. Something was definitely plaguing him and he vowed to find out.

“I'm fine,” Harry said before Ginny snorted and Hermione huffed. “You are not fine!” The bushy-haired girl said, staring at him in anger. Harry looked to her and raised an eyebrow.

“Maybe not, but I'll live.” He said, and Sirius and Lupin witnessed a sudden result with his words. Hermione's face went completely pale as did Ron's and Ginny's. The girls eyes filled with tears and she went to reach out to Harry who looked around for a few seconds in complete confusion, before it dawned on him and he said, “Oh, sorry.”

“Will someone tell me what's going on here?” Sirius demanded in frustration. Harry looked to him and sighed while Ron said, “They won't tell anyone, Harry, and maybe they can help?”

“Yes, do that!” Remus said, leaning forward in anticipation. Harry looked around at all the eager faces and h felt himself cornered. Maybe they can help, but I don't want them to feel sorry for me. Harry thought. But would Sirius and Remus pity me or try to coddle me? He looked down at his cold dinner and let his fork drop with a sharp clang.

“Okay...” Harry said, while Hermione nodded in encouragement and her actions was what made him able to continue. He finally found the words he was looking for and the strength to continue.

He let it all out. The prophecy and his thoughts on it. What they had came up with before and what Dumbledore thought it meant. Overall, it took about an hour for everything to be sorted through and when he finished, Harry looked over to see Remus looking at him blankly and Sirius watching him closely.

“Merlin...” Remus said after a lengthy silence. He sat back in his chair and placed a hand to his head before sitting forward and placing his hands behind his head. But Sirius was still watching him, a dark light playing in his eyes.

“You knew, didn't you?” Harry asked softly, looking at Sirius with pained eyes. Everyone turned to look at Sirius, including Remus who had a disbelieving look in his brown eyes.

“The first part of it, the part only Voldemort knew.” Sirius said, sighing and brushing his hair back, off his face. “I tried to tell you, last summer. But every time I thought about it, Dumbledore would turn up and tell me how important it was that you didn't know. If it was up to me, I would have told you the whole thing when I first seen you. But of course, with Dumbledore being all knowing, he thought it best to wait until you were ready!” At this point, Harry's godfather let out an animal-like growl and thumped the table with his fist.

“He said I was too young and that it would have been too much for me to bear alone.” Harry said angrily, glaring at the table.

“But you don't have to bear it alone,” Hermione said, grabbing his hand again. Harry thought, briefly, how nice her skin felt against his own, before banishing it to the back of his mind.

“No, you don't,” Remus continued, nodding his head in agreement with Hermione's words. “We will be here if you need us for anything, Harry.” Lupin said truthfully.

“And we will help you carry this thing, okay mate?” Ron added, his ears turning red. Ginny smiled and said, “Likewise.”

And Harry looked back down at his and Hermione's hands, connected just like their friendship. Then he looked up at his family and smiled, thinking, I might just win this thing after all.

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Hey all! God, I can't believe how crap this story was before I decided to re-write it! Siriusly (LOL)! Well, here's the next chapter, all new and improved. I don't think I had that whole thing with the prophecy in the previous chapter, which was called The Mysterious New Look, which had them returning to Hogwarts already and noticing something up with Malfoy. But, I think it is much, much, much better! The next one will probably have them back on the train and all that.

Haha, I had two people say to me in their reviews, two different things about the ending of the last chapter. You know the bit how they said,

“Are you thinking what I'm thinking?”

“I think I am.”

Someone said it was like Banana's in pyjamas and another said it was like Pinky and the Brain. This got me singing the Banana's theme song all night...great!

Well, thanks for everyone who reviewed and please keep them coming!

Bye

DW

PS. Plus, there was more Harry/Hermione fluff stuff in this chapter. Not much, but more than before!