Story: War
Chapter: 25
Rating of Chapter: R
My other Fics: Stress, Wake Me From This Nightmare, Psychokinesis, Forlorn
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Beta: Cheryl
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: Thank you for the reviews of the last chapter, you guys rock! Another loaded chapter here, a lot is going to happen.
Chapter 25: A Dark Turn
Harry sat upright in his bed when Hedwig tapped on his window. He dragged himself off the soft mattress and opened the window quietly before opening his hand to Hedwig who took a bite of some owl treats before fluttering away. Harry then glanced down at Ron, the sudden memories of last night returning. Dumbledore had ordered them not to mention the two deaths before they had been investigated a little more.
Harry nudged Ron in the ribs, and he turned over and half opened his eyes before rubbing them with his hands. "What time is it?" he groaned.
"Five o'clock, we have to be at Grimmauld Place in an hour remember."
"I know," answered Ron before getting off his bed. "Where were you last night? I came up and you weren't here."
Harry shrugged casually. "I was with Hermione, I was back up around quarter to one."
Ron nodded. "Oh right, I just missed you then." A few minutes of awkward silence passed between the two friends before Ron continued. "Listen mate, could I talk to you about something?"
"Sure, but not here. I'll get dressed and then we'll go downstairs and talk." Ron smiled, as did Harry. Although he was a little apprehensive about where the conversation might lead.
Quarter of an hour later Harry and Ron met up in the quiet Gryffindor Common Room, the sun rising above the misty mountains in the distance, as viewed through an arched window they were seated by.
"I wanted to talk to you about Susan," began Ron. Harry couldn't help but react to the raging guilt inside him, and he looked down at his lap. "Last night in the Astronomy Tower…" Harry suddenly found himself coughing a little too frantically, but it eased off after a short while. "Are you okay?" asked Ron.
"Yeah, just fighting a cold I guess." Ron nodded uncertainly.
"Anyway, we were snogging, and she wanted to go to that next level. I told her I wasn't ready yet, that I wanted something more first. I thought I might try and talk to her later tonight, we didn't exactly leave on good terms."
Harry swallowed hard, he couldn't face breaking the news of Susan's death, too much bad had already befallen his best-friend. Harry took a deep breath and despite being instructed to the contrary he started, "Ron…I need to tell you something about Susan…"
Ron looked confused while Harry continued, "Something happened to Susan in the Astronomy Tower…after you left…"
"What?!" yelled Ron as he bounded up from his seated position, "Is she hurt? Is she in the hospital wing?" making for the common room exit.
"No! Ron! Just stop and listen." called out Harry as the wave of guilt and nausea nearly overwhelmed him. Ron turned, ashen faced and distraught, to listen to Harry.
Another deep breath and Harry continued, "She…put up a good fight…but her attacker, he…she's dead Ron. I'm sorry. Draco and I found her too late. I'm so sorry."Ron sank to the floor in despair that quickly turned to rage. "Its my fault, I never should have left her like that, its my fault. If I hadn't left, she'd still be…"
"Ron, it's not your fault. Place blame where it belongs - Felipe killed Susan and others too." stated Hermione as she entered the common room.
"Felipe! That frog bastard! I'll kill him!" raged Ron.
"He's dead too Ron." Hermione stated further.
Ron's head was swimming; this was all too much at once. He crumbled back down to the floor. Hermione moved to put her arms around in comfort, but Ron held her off.
"Uh, I'll leave you two alone, I need to get some things ready." said Ron as he pulled himself off the floor. "Ron?" inquired Harry, but Ron waived him off too. "I'll be right back, Harry," answered Ron as he disappeared up the stairs to the boys' dormitory.
Hermione moved to Harry's side as he motioned for them to take a seat on the sofa. "You told him," acknowledged Hermione. "I had to Hermione, they'd had a row, and he was going to look for her…"
"Then you had no choice," agreed Hermione as she laid her head on Harry's shoulder. They held on to each other for a while before speaking.
"Today is going to be hard I know, but as hard as it is we are going to have to focus on the mission ahead. We only have to collect the Elixir while the rest of the Order hold off the Death Eater's."
"I know Harry, and you're absolutely right, its just…Susan was more than Ron's girlfriend to me, she was a friend." A few tears broke loose from Hermione's eyes and Harry wrapped his other arm around her and held her tightly.
"Shh, it's going to be okay…it's going to be okay."
*
Harry, Hermione and an emotionally shut down Ron entered Dumbledore's office. The remaining Order members were seated quietly, and Sirius looked away when Harry looked at him. Harry also noticed that nobody seemed to look directly at Ron. He further noticed that there was no sign of Draco.
"As you know by now, today we will attempt to re-capture Grimmauld Place. Mr Potter, Mr Weasley, Miss Granger, you will have to use both stealth and courage to find a way under Kreacher's den."
"Sir, pardon me for interrupting, but where's Draco?" Harry asked.
"Mr Malfoy has been suspended, by order of the Minister of Magic." Harry, Ron and Hermione exchanged puzzled glances before Dumbledore explained to them that he had made a Portkey available to Grimmauld Place.
Before they began Harry had a chance to pull Sirius aside, away from Ron and Hermione. "Why is Draco suspended?"
Sirius sighed. "Fudge thinks he is guilty of last nights…murders," he whispered. "Forget about it Harry, we'll sort it out soon, you have more important things to think about." Harry nodded, still wanting to know more. But either way, two minutes later he was standing inside a cupboard on the basement level of Grimmauld Place with Hermione and Ron beside him.
"Clever place to Portkey I guess," commented Ron not even noticing the HUGE spider in the corner. Ron was almost snorting like a bull waiting for the right moment to charge. Hermione gave Harry a worried glance.
Harry pushed the door open a crack and pulled it closed instantly. "There's a Death Eater out there."
"Oh great!" grunted Ron. "Clearly the Order are kicking arse like they promised!"
"What do we do?" asked Hermione, glancing up at Harry. That must have been the first time Hermione had said that to him, and it seemed to bring out all of his Gryffindor courage.
"Listen," he whispered. "I'm going to kick one door open, Ron can kick the other. We'll get this Death Eater and then we'll step out quickly and fight whoever or whatever is out there, okay?" Hermione nodded.
"I'm ready," said Ron as he readied himself to kick in the door and squishing the hairy-legged spider in the process. Harry began counting, "one, two…THREE!" Harry and Ron kicked open the doors causing the Death Eater to fall to the floor. The trio then stepped into the hall wands ready. They held a defensive stance, but the halls appeared to be vacant save for the small house elf asleep in the far corner of his den.
"Lets get him," hissed Harry. Hermione and Ron followed him as they tiptoed towards Kreacher when suddenly numerous green orbs started flying out towards them, luckily they seemed to be able to dodge all of them. The old house elf turned towards them with an evil glint in his eye. "You!" yelled Harry. Harry darted towards him and flung an arm at his neck but Kreacher dodged it. Ron attempted to grab a hold of the nasty elf but missed, Hermione though muttered a quick spell, chaining Kreacher's arms and legs up.
"There," she said simply. "Taken care of."
"Not until he's dead," snapped Harry, who was moving towards Kreacher with his sleeves rolled halfway up his arm.
"Harry wait," ordered Hermione. "Why don't we take him to Dumbledore, we have more important things to do for now."
"Like what?" sneered Kreacher.
"Like this," answered Hermione before muttering another spell, this time gagging the house elf.
"I guess your right," said Harry, smiling a little at Hermione.
"Come on guys," called Ron, who had opened up the door under Kreacher's den. "I'll just check to see if it's there." Ron dropped down the circular gap and re-appeared moments later. As he did, Harry felt a peculiar burning on his insides.
"It's gone…destroyed, when I got down the Elixir was spilt on the ground, and then it dissolved into nowhere. I did find this." Ron opened up his hand to reveal a small purple sphere. Harry felt himself being drawn into it, like a force he couldn't stop, a firing rage developing inside him. "You alright mate?" asked Ron.
Harry slowly took the sphere into his hand and then slowly tilted his head up towards Ron. Ron stepped back a little after focusing on the black tint in Harry's eyes. Harry swung out a fist, knocking Ron to the ground. "Harry," said Hermione, softly placing a hand on his arm. Harry swung his arm back and elbowed the peak of her head, knocking her down. No, what are you doing? Don't do this. His mind was pleading with him to stop, but his body seemed to be reacting on it's own. Harry then delved his knee into Hermione's ribs three times before pulling away, glaring at the crumpled body.
"Get on your knees," he demanded in a voice that was not his own. Hermione dragged herself slowly to her knees.
"Harry…what are you doing?" she pleaded weakly. Harry whipped out his wand to her chest at point blank range. "Av-"
"Harry!" Remus Lupin hurried into the room, followed by Sirius and Mad Eye. Harry then turned around sharply towards Lupin, his wand pointed straight at him.
"Avada Kedavra." A look of shock and disbelief flashed over Lupin's visage before he fell backwards to the ground. Mad Eye and Sirius looked on in disbelief, but Mad Eye found the strength to cast 'Expelliarmus' and disarm Harry while Sirius leant down at Lupin's side. Ron then dived at the legs of Harry and he fell, the sphere fleeing from his grip across the room. Harry slowly sat up and shook his head for a moment before getting to his feet. Two tears flaked down his right cheek as he gazed around the sullenness room, dazed. Harry was free of the sphere's control over him but the guilt consumed him as shock poured through his veins and he stumbled backwards, finally grasping a hold of the cupboard door before Portkeying away.
>>>Will be continued in Chapter 26, coming very soon!