Beta Reader: 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: n/a
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE Counterfeit
The next few weeks seemed to drag hour-by-hour for Harry, due to the seemingly never ending N.E.W.Ts and the idea that Voldemort could be lurking around any corner of Hogwarts waiting to pop him off with a quick Avada Kedavra. Harry knew deep down that Voldemort wouldn't be foolish enough to stand in the middle of Hogwarts - especially with Dumbledore around. Or maybe he would do it? After all it would be unexpected…
Harry attempted to shrug off his thoughts and concentrate on his Divination exam. 'If the moon is thirty metres from North on Monday, what will be its location of Friday of that week?' Harry read silently from his paper. In the sky? He thought. He glanced over at Ron who seemed to be more interested in peeling the skin from his fingers than answering any questions…or reading them for that matter.
He took a brief look at the Slytherin end of the room, where Draco was running a comb through his hair. Draco had been allowed back to school for his N.E.W.Ts, but Dumbledore was certain that his suspension would have been lifted anyway.
Harry looked back down at the piece of parchment on his desk. Just do your best, this is the second to last exam and the previous one had gone all right, he told himself, though still having no idea what the answer was.
*
An hour or so later Harry walked with Hermione towards the Great Hall, having now finished his deplorable examination. They had a break for a couple of hours and were going to spend the time relaxing before their final exam.
"So how was Divination?" asked Hermione.
"About as good as usual. It's still annoying we had to take the bloody exam after they let us give it up two years ago."
"Well you did study it for three years, they're bound to expect you to have learnt something by now," Hermione reasoned.
"Hey guys," Ron said brightly, joining them at the Gryffindor table.
"You look happy considering you just took an exam," Hermione pointed out.
"I don't give a Boggart's backside, one more to go and that's it!" Ron announced, thrusting his fist into the air triumphantly.
"That being said, this is no time to start getting careless," Hermione said sternly.
"I've been careless since the day I was born," Harry and Ron laughed in unison, however Hermione's frowning caused them to stop.
"How was Arithmancy?" Harry asked Hermione.
"Great!" answered Hermione, beaming. "Although I ran out of parchment on the final answer, luckily I had some extra in my bag."
A few giggles interrupted their conversation. As the giggling grew louder and louder Harry could see that Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil were approaching their table. They both took a seat and continued giggling and whispering.
"So who's dumped who?" Ron grunted in response to their giggles.
Parvati and Lavender frowned simultaneously. "We've heard rough plans for tomorrow's ball," said Parvati proudly.
"Yep, chairs and tables at one side of the room, and a stage, for the Weird Sisters, and a dance floor at the other end," said Lavender excitedly.
"Marvellous," muttered Ron. "What about the food?"
"That'll be later, the ball starts at one and the feast is at six," said Lavender.
"Then…that's it," said Harry absently, wondering if he would be duelling with Lord Voldemort when the Weird Sisters took to the stage. This is ridiculous, he thought a few moments later. "I'm going to speak to Dumbledore," he announced to the others.
"Are you okay?" Hermione asked, the concern evident in her tone.
"Yeah, I'll be back in a few minutes." Harry stood up from his chair and left the hall.
"Strange boy," said Lavender, frowning.
*
"Come in," said Dumbledore in response to Harry's knock on the door. Harry pushed the door open and approached the smiling Dumbledore who was sitting back in his large armchair with his feet perched on top of his desk.
"Ah, Harry," he said, bringing his feet off the desktop.
"Hello, Sir," said Harry, sitting down opposite Dumbledore. "I'm going to get straight to the point - when do you think Voldemort is going to strike?"
Dumbledore's eyes widened, the smile disappearing slightly from his face. "I have been expecting him this school year, but he seems more interested in using other forms of attack." Harry nodded, knowing fully well that he hadn't mentioned Voldemort's most recent ploy wherein the toilets had been rigged to destroy any person attempting to make use of them. Conveniently, Peeves had been assumed responsible for the damage.
"I'm just not sure how I should be behaving. Do I act like nothing is going to happen?" Dumbledore nodded.
"I suggest that you do that, and focus on your final examination and enjoying tomorrow's ball. When Voldemort chooses to strike is out of your hands. We will just have to deal with the situation when it comes." Harry nodded and stood up. He was about to leave when he stopped.
"Sir, when you mean we, you really mean me don't you? I mean, I have to do this." Dumbledore stood up now and walked around his desk to stand directly in front of Harry, gazing deeply into his eyes.
"You are correct Harry, it is you who needs to defeat Voldemort. Regardless of the situation your friends and the people who care about you will be with you. They will always be close to your heart."
"Thank you sir," Harry answered, for once feeling a little more relaxed about the day.
"Good luck today Harry."
*
After completing the last of his N.E.W.T levels Harry had spent the remainder of the night in the Gryffindor common room with the rest of the Gryffindors. He had managed to take his mind off Voldemort for the time being but now was the time to concentrate on it. At least that was what he was planning. Today was to be his last at Hogwarts, the place he had called home for the past seven years. It would be sad leaving, yet also a relief to be away from the place where all of his worries were born.
He was also looking forward to spending more time with Sirius once he was finished. If he could fight and defeat Voldemort today then he would be free to relax and live his life like any other human and Hermione would be safe and he wouldn't have to leave her again.
"Okay mate?" asked Ron who had just slipped into his dress robes. Harry was ready too, but he was still waiting for Hermione.
"Yeah."
"So, er," Ron stepped closer to him, his voice barely a whisper. "Do you think today's the day?"
"I don't know, things feel different but I think that's just last day of school stuff."
"Yeah, your probably right."
*
Two more hours had passed, and Harry, who was joined by a dateless Ron, was still waiting for Hermione outside the Great Hall.
"Something's wrong," said Harry, pacing the corridor. "We agreed that we'd meet at twelve forty-five outside the Great Hall, it's not like Hermione to be late."
"You know women, she's probably just trying to pick the right make up," said Ron, who patted Harry on the shoulder.
Harry looked at him doubtfully. "For two hours?" Ron raised his eyebrows. "Trust me," he added.
Ten more minutes passed, Harry still pacing. "I'm going to look for her," Harry said.
"No need," said Ron, pointing down the hall. Harry looked ahead and saw Hermione turn down a corridor. He followed her quickly, Ron following. They tracked Hermione down the corridor and into a small room.
"Hermione what's up?" Harry asked, approaching Hermione who had her back turned to him. Before he could touch her he heard a loud thud behind him, he turned in a flash and saw Ron crumpled up on the ground, standing over him - the very much alive Felipe Dupree and his father.
Shocked, Harry gaped at the Dupree's, rage boiling up through every inch of his body. "Surprise," Harry noticed that the voice was from behind him. He turned to see Hermione transform into another girl with silky black hair down to her waist, thick eyebrows and dark brown eyes, wearing a Beauxbatons uniform. "I'd like you to meet my sister."
Mr Dupree muttered a spell and Harry found himself bound with rope, they'd got him.
Author Notes: Two chapters to go.