Story: War
Chapter: 13
Rating of Chapter: R
My other Fics: Stress, Wake Me From This Nightmare, Psychokinesis, Forlorn
Thanks: Thanks to Cheryl and Muirnin for their continuous support and help with this fic.
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. The only things I own are the plot, any characters, spells etc that you do not recognize.
Author Notes: This continues exactly where we left off at the end of the last chapter. Although nobody noticed I did slip up in the last chapter, I mentioned Kingsley and then realised that I killed him off in Stress. Oh well, we all make mistakes.
Chapter 13: Dismay
Harry walked up to the prefect common room; he sat down in a small window seat on the left hand side of the room. Whilst gazing at the November trees he came to the realisation that the colour of the leaves weren't the only things changing in the Wizarding world. He could sense that the War was coming; there was a somewhat different feel to the air. But things weren't all changing for the good; the main problem was his situation with Hermione. When he was with her he felt complete, without her he only felt alone.
Harry was taken aback when the door swung open; he turned around and saw Ron running in, the Daily Prophet held above his head. "Is everything ok?" Harry asked him. Ron shook his head as he did his best to regain his breath.
"Not really," he answered, holding out the Daily Prophet to Harry, who took it uncertainly. He glanced over the cover page before his face turned red with anger.
"Shit!" he snapped, throwing the paper back to Ron. "How could they print this? I mean, how could they know." Ron shrugged again as Harry snatched the paper from his grip, reading over the front page once more, before finally reading a little bit of the article.
POTTER KNOCKS UP BEST FRIEND GRANGER
Coming in from a secret source last night and from another source over the past few weeks, the Daily Prophet can reveal a shocking story of heartbreak and violence. We can confirm, that Harry Potter has gotten his best friend Hermione Granger pregnant. Not only that, but from what we heard it is quite obvious that `The Boy Who Lived' is a dangerous sex addict.
He was overheard literally berating Miss.Granger, who could not argue his aggressive persistence. This is really a huge shock to the Wizarding World, and one can only hope that there are no more Harry Potter's around.
Harry hurled the newspaper across the room and started pacing in anger. "How could they say that? That was a private conversation between myself and Hermione, not to mention how much they twisted it."
"I know mate, but who could have overheard you?" Ron questioned. Harry thought for a moment, who would want to do this to him? At that moment the door opened again, but this time it was Hermione who entered. She stood in the doorway for a moment; her facial expressions told Harry that she was devastated by the news. "I'll leave you two alone." Ron took no time to escape as he darted out of the common room.
Harry locked eyes with Hermione, their faces full of hurt and anger. "Before you say anything Hermione, I would like to speak." Harry walked slowly towards her and placed his hand on her arm. She looked up into his eyes, and the look of hurt in her eyes made Harry realize that what he was about to say was definitely going to be worthwhile. He guided her to him and he held her hands tightly. "After what I've just witnessed in the Daily Prophet I've come to a conclusion." She looked up into his eyes, and the look of hurt in her eyes gave Harry the conviction to go through with what he was about to do
"What conclusion Harry," Hermione asked, becoming a little concerned with her boyfriend.
"That maybe me being around you isn't such a good idea." Hermione stayed quiet in surprise. "Think about it, I've ruined your life. I can't keep doing this to you."
Hermione shook her head in dismay. "No Harry, I don't want to be without you, you haven't ruined my life" she pleaded, a flood of tears erupting from her eyelids.
Harry breathed in deeply and sighed. "This is very hard for me Hermione, but I'm only going to cause you more pain anyway." Hermione wiped her eyes with her hands and gazed into his eyes, curiosity overtaking her emotions. "I mean, with the War happening, I'm going to have to be the strongest person in this world Hermione, and I have to do whatever it takes to win this battle. And I know deep down that when I do fight…" he took her hands and their fingers wrapped around each others. He looked into her eyes and continued. "I may not come back," he finished.
"Don't say that," argued Hermione, more tears flowing from her eyes.
"I can't deny it forever Hermione, this is reality."
"I'll be fighting beside you," she answered.
"NO!" He cut her off quickly and lifted her chin up so that she would look at him. "Hermione I am going to win this War for you, so that you and everybody else can live in peace whether I come back or not."
"What about the prophecy?"
"I know about the prophecy Hermione, but that only matters if I win this War, I may not. I want to prepare you for whatever may happen, I don't know what it will take to defeat Voldemort, it may mean dying myself in the process but I will do it for you, I am doing all of this for you, you have to understand."
She stood up straight and eyeing him intently. "Oh, for ME! Harry this isn't what I want, your destroying me here. I've already told you that I love you, all I needed was some space."
"I love you too Hermione, that's why I'm doing this."
"If you loved me you wouldn't be causing me so much pain," she answered firmly, before marching out of the door, the slam causing a breeze which blew away a few hidden tears on Harry Potter's face.
(Puddle of Mudd - Nothing left to Loose)
Something, something's taking over me
Shaking, bottled up inside of me
Crawling, crawling in the shadows so no one finds me
Hiding, paranoid I suffer no sleeping
I'm annoyed, I think you should shut it
Give me no attention or you'll be sorry
I've got nothing left to lose
You always get your way
Got everything to prove
I saw you turn away
Got nothing left to lose
You always get your way
Got everything to prove
You always get your way
Help me, sitting front of fire I'm melting
Don't you leave me hanging I'm burning
Can't hold on forever
I'm not that stupid
Genius cracking underneath this pressure
Sorry couldn't keep it together
I know I've got it coming, but you'll be sorry
I've got nothing left to lose
You always get your way
Got everything to prove
I saw you turn away
Got nothing left to lose
You always get your way
Got everything to prove
You always get your way
You always get your way
I won't just turn away
Save me from myself
Always get your way
Save me from myself
I've got nothing left to lose
You always get your way
Got everything to prove
I saw you turn away
Got nothing left to lose
You always get your way
Got everything to prove
You always get your way
You always get your way
I won't just turn away
You always get your way
I saw you turn away
*
An hour later Harry was still seated in the Prefect Common Room, the slam of the door still ringing in his ears. He started to wonder what it was like outside, how people were going to react to him, how the teachers would react to the news.
Harry jumped from his thoughts when he heard a couple of loud clonks one after the other, the noise was coming from outside. He leapt up from his seat and ran over to the window, amazement taking over him as he saw three horse drawn carriages on the Hogwarts grounds. Harry remembered back in fourth year, and it suddenly hit him who it was, especially when about six girls appeared from each carriage. Harry noticed their elegant black silk uniforms and rather short skirts. These were defiantly students from the French school Beauxbatons. But why were they here?
Harry left the Prefect Common Room and dashed downstairs towards the Great Hall. Once he arrived at the doors Argus Filch stopped him. "No students allowed," the old and wrinkled man snarled.
"But I'm a prefect," Harry argued.
"Tough, nobody is allowed in there other than professors."
"Harry," Ron called from down the corridor. Harry walked quickly over to him, leaving Filch to keep watch. "Have you seen who's here?"
"Yeah, do you know what's going on in the hall?" Harry asked.
"I'm not sure, but the students from Beauxbatons aren't the only ones here."
"Let me guess Durmstrang?" Ron nodded.
"We saw them arrive a while ago."
"But why would they be here? It's obvious not all of them are, just a few." At that moment two of the familiar soldiers marched towards them, dressed in their usual red suits.
"Leave please," they both stated simply.
"Why should we?" Ron challenged. One of the soldiers swept an arm across Ron's chest, sending him flying through the air onto the ground.
"What are you doing?" Harry snapped. Then the other soldier did the same to him, as he landed he narrowly avoided Ron. As the soldiers passed out of sight Harry and Ron stumbled to their feet.
"I guess that's the B.D.M.S?" questioned Ron. Harry just nodded suspiciously, something was definitely wrong. They began their way towards the library to study; once they were there they took their seats in a quiet corner and pretended to read.
"So what do you know about these things?" Ron asked.
"No much, just that Dumbledore doesn't want them here?"
"Why not?"
"I can answer that," answered Draco, taking a seat opposite them. He eyed Ron for a moment before turning to Harry.
"I know a little bit about the B.D.M.S. First of all, they are pretty easy to kill, one whack with a solid object and they disintegrate into dust."
"Yuck," muttered Ron.
"Sorry, next time I'll tell you the PG version." Ron glared at his enemy but listened on. "Anyway, they might be easy to beat but they are strong, their main strength is in their arms."
"Tell me about it," added Ron, snorting.
"What about background information?" Harry asked. Draco sighed.
"Ah, okay. Well they were originally created at the Ministry of Magic, Fudge's idea to protect people. It wasn't too bad at first but soon they started acting strangely, and the next minute they were working as spies for Voldemort, giving him information from the Ministry. Word has it Voldemort betrayed them and they have changed their ways, take that as you will."
"What does this B.D.M.S stand for anyway, and how de we know you're not lying?" Ron questioned.
"The British Defence of Magical Schools, and believe me or not, either way, I'm the only source you have."
"But if they were spies for Voldemort they shouldn't be here?" Harry argued.
"Well with that prat Fudge about, Dumbledore doesn't have an option." They pondered over Draco's words for a moment before he changed the subject.
"So Weasley, I see you've decided to grow up?" Ron half nodded. "How's Ginny?"
"Last I checked she was fine, after all…I told her to date whomever she wants." Ron braced himself for the next insult.
"That was big of you…I appreciate it." Draco held out a hand to Ron, which he apprehensively shook. "How about you Potter?" He held out his hand to Harry, which he gladly shook.
"But Draco, call us by our first names," added Harry. Draco nodded and took his hand away. "So how are things with you and Gr-Hermione."
"Awful, I sort of…broke up with her." Harry looked down at the table in guilt.
"What the…" Ron began. "Why?"
"It's for her own good, I told her that when I go into this war I may not come back," he said confidently.
"Well that's confidence boosting, it's always nice to know our most important wizard is full of confidence," said Draco sarcastically.
"Well if all you two are going to do is argue with me, than I think I'll find another table." He began to get up but he fell stumbled against the wall as a sharp pain darted into his scar. It felt as though he had punctured his head against a barbed-wire fence. He stumbled off the wall and collapsed to his knees, his vision was gone and the whole room was replaced with black. He could hear a voice that sounded like Ron's, it was as if it was coming from a mile away, but over the top of that a voice came crystal clear.
`Things getting to you Potter, am I getting to you?' Voldemort's shrill voice echoed through his mind sending rivets of pain through his head. `You won't have worries for long, this war will be won and I will rule all, watch your back Potter, you never know where my servants may be lurking.' The pain disappeared from Harry's head and his vision came back with a blur, he tried to straighten himself up but couldn't get to his feet.
Draco and Ron pulled him up and moved him out of the library, leaving a crowd of confused students. They took Harry up to the hospital wing and sat him down in a small chair. Madam Pomfrey rushed over to him. "What's the problem?" she asked hurriedly.
"Voldemort got in my head, that's all." Harry said casually. "It's happened before."
"Are you sure you are ok?" she asked, Harry nodded his head.
"Yeah, I just need to think for a moment."
Author Notes: Ooh, things are growing interesting now aren't they? They lyrics have more meaning if you actually here the songs as all lyrics do. Who are the TWO sources for the Daily Prophet?