Unofficial Portkey Archive

Disclaimer: No, I don't own anything. What do you think? If I did, I wouldn't be here writing you a fic. *smiled* Ok, lets talk seriously. Everything belongs to JKR, except the plot and some memories that I used along the story. So, no need to sue me, ok?

Important Note: Whatever is between **, means that someone is recalling something from the past. Some of those thoughts belong to the books, but that can change according to the character. And, even though this is the continuation of the fifth book, it can have some modifications. So, in case something doesn't seem correct, that means that I've changed it for some reason that you'll discovered along the story. Oh, I almost forgot, what's between `' means a dream.

Especial Thanks To: Jen, who accepted to be my beta-reader. Thank you, Jen, for everything.

Summary:

"Rest in me and I'll comfort you/I have lived and I died for you/Abide in me and I vow to you /I will never forsake you" (Evanescence 'Lies') Nightmares had come, with warnings and feelings Harry only wanted to forget. But then, when he finally released his past, a new adventure appeared in his life. An adventure full of dreams, enigmas and fears that will turn Harry's 6th year into one he will wish to forget. After all, choices have to be made and it will be a decision, which will make

Harry realize what it felt like to loose his own heart.

Harry Potter And The Torch Of Hope

Chapter 1: Memories, Letters & The Journey To Hogwarts

*Harry saw Sirius duck Bellatrix's jet of red light; he was laughing at her.

"C"mon, you can do better than that!" he yelled, his voice echoing around the cavernous room.

The second jet of light hit him squarely in the chest. The laughter had not quite died from his face, but his eyes widened in shock.

Harry tried to stop all that, but the only thing he could do was released Neville, just like he had done on that terrible night.

Harry saw, once again, Sirius' body curved in a graceful arc as he sank backwards through the ragged veil hanging from the arch. Harry wanted to save his godfather, but the only thing he could hear was Bellatrix Lestrange's triumphant scream, while his own voice screamed for Sirius.

And, just like it had happened before, Remus Lupin's voice was the last thing Harry heard, before waking up screaming:

"There's nothing you can do, Harry...nothing...he's gone."*

"SIRIUS!" Harry yelled, sitting up on his bed. "No, please!" Harry opened his eyes, and looked around. "No please, don't leave me! Siri..." Harry stopped mid-sentence, when he realized that it was just a dream; the same one that haunted him since he had left Hogwarts.

Harry looked out the window and a lonely tear fell down his cheek; the one and only tear that had leaked from Harry's bloodshot eyes. That was the only tear that could show what Harry was feeling on the inside.

Taking a deep breath, Harry got up from his bed, grabbed a piece of parchment and a quill, before sitting on the bed again, in Indian style. He laid the parchment down on top of a book, his potions book to be exact, and began writing.

Dear Snuffles,

How are you? I'm just writing this, so I could tell you what I'm feeling at the moment and how my holidays have been. Well, the Dursleys have been treating me like they always do, but I'm used to that. I just hate the fact I to diet just because Aunt Petunia wants to make Dudley a stick (like that's possible). Anyway, I received one letter from Tonks, saying that everything was ok, and that the Order was still working on a way to finish Voldemort, once and for all. Oh, she said Lupin has been a little sick, but that's nothing to be alarmed with. It's probably just a summer cold. Well, I have been well, even though I still have nightmares (no, I don't dream about Voldemort). I haven't received any letters from Hermione, however Ron sent me one saying she was in Bulgaria with Krum (yeah, that Victor Krum). Oh, by the way, I think our red haired friend his falling in love. I'm not sure yet, but Ginny added a P.S. on the letter Ron sent me, saying that he and Luna (a friend) had been exchanging mail. Who knows, maybe Ron has finally found some happiness. Look, I know this letter is small, but the truth is that I can't write more.

Waiting for a replay,

Harry

A small sound made Harry look up. He saw Hedwig extend her wings inside the cage. It seemed that she knew he was going to need her.

"Can you go give this to Sirius?" Harry said to her. The owl rolled her head to the side, like saying she didn't understand. "You know...my godfather." The owl gave another sound, and Harry opened her cage. "Just be careful, ok?" After biting his finger affectionately, the owl gave another `hoot', before flying through the open window, and disappearing into the dark night.

Harry stared out at the stars for a minute before lying back down upon his bed. He closed his eyes, and leaned his head against the wall, and let his mind return to the events of the last year.

*There's a room in the Department of Mysteries that is kept locked at all times. It contains a force that is at once more wonderful and more terrible than death, than human intelligence, than the forces of nature. It is also, perhaps, the most mysterious of the many subjects for study that resides there. It is the power held within that room that you possess in such quantities and which Voldemort has none at all. That power took you to save Sirius tonight. That power also saved you from possession by Voldemort, because he could not bear to reside in a body so full of the force he detests. In the end, it mattered not that you could not close your mind. It was your heart that saved you.*

Dumbledore's words would always appear when his mind wasn't prepared. Harry would always hear what he didn't want to hear, but he knew that, no matter how hard he tried, the followed words would never disappear.

*The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approached...born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies...and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not...and either must die at the hands 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.*

Harry opened his eyes.

"And either must die at the hands of the other for neither can live while the other survives..." he whispered to the air. Was that his destiny? Fight Voldemort, and die while trying to do so? No, he didn't want to do that, but even when he thought he would never accomplish that, a voice in his head would reassure him. It would tell him that he was destined to do it, and that he would accomplish his mission.

Shaking his head, Harry grabbed a square mirror that was on the bedside table and looked at his reflection. He saw a sixteen-year old boy looking back at him, with dark circles under his once brilliant emerald-green eyes. Now, his eyes looked so lost and sad that the green seemed to have been replaced by two dark brown eyes.

His hair was like always, or if possible, more disheveled on top of his head. His body was a little more muscular due to the work he had started doing since he had returned from school, and he was much thinner, since he barely ate.

`This is a two-way mirror, I've got the other one of the pair. If you need to speak to me, just say my name into it; you'll appear in my mirror and I'll be able to talk in yours. James and I used to use them when we were in separate detentions,' Sirius's voice echoed in his mind. `Use it if you need me, all right?'

"Sirius," said Harry, his voice trembling. "Sirius, please, answer me. I need you." But nothing happened; Harry just kept staring at his reflection. "C'mon Sirius, you promised me, remember? You promised you would always be there when I needed, and that time is now! Please don't leave me alone. Please..."

Silence filled the air. Harry's pleas were not answered, it was all in vain. Sirius was not going to answer, nor would he ever. He was all alone, like always.

Putting the mirror on the bedside table again, Harry returned to his original position and looked at the ceiling; that wasn't a lie, he was alone. He had always been.

On an attempt to shield the thoughts that were appearing in his head, Harry grabbed his photo album and started looking at the pictures. He turned to the first page; it was his parents, looking happy, along with baby Harry. He eyed the picture for a few minutes, and then turned the page.

He came to pictures of him and his friends in first year, others from the second, and so on. He treasured those memories like they were a part of him; in a way they actually were. They were all his memories from the past, the events of the present and wishes for the future.

He came to the picture of him and Cho and stopped. Memories began flooding his mind as he remembered the day he shared his first kiss with her; he could still remember how she was and how he felt. But he also remembered the conversation on the train, months after they shared that moment.

*"What's - er - going on with you and her, anyway?" Ron asked, quietly

"Nothing." said Harry, truthfully

"I - er - heard she's going out with someone." said Hermione, tentatively*

Harry had been surprise to find out that information, but it didn't hurt at all and if he was being honest, the news that Ginny was dating Michael Corner was more of a shock.

Shaking his head again, Harry continued to look at the pictures until he looked at one where Hermione was all alone, dressed in her school robes and a book in front of her chest. She had been the one who gave him tips about how to react around girls, especially girls like Cho. He had to admit, that his best female friend seemed to know a lot about that subject, but when did Hermione ever not know a lot about a subject?

Suddenly an owl entered his room, and Harry looked up surprised. It spotted the small, frantic owl and knew immediately it was Ron's owl, Pig.

Getting up, Harry went over to the owl that, after her entrance, had gone to Hedwig's cage to drink some water.

"Hey Pig! Mail for me?" he asked in a whisper and, after drinking a bit of water, Pig extended her leg and Harry grabbed the letter attached. The instance she was free from the mail, Pig jumped from the cage, startling Harry a bit, and looked at the human in front of her. Rolling his eyes, Harry opened the letter.

Hello mate,

How are you? I do hope you're ok, and that those muggles are treating you well. Mum is always threatening she will go there herself to pick you up if she finds out you are having any problems. And she also said that, if you're in need and you don't say anything, she just might do something crazy. I'm telling you, Mum`s going crazy for not receiving news from you. So, I ask you to answer this letter, even if it's just with a `hello, I'm alive!' Do it, please. Now, other things...hum...there's nothing going on around here, even though many think that You-Know-Who is preparing something. Many say it's something big, but I don't have any clue of what it is. Maybe Hermione does. Speaking of which, I haven't received any mail from that girl. What do you think she's doing? In a way I'm scared to find out but, even though we're always fighting, I care for her and I'm scared she could get hurt. Never trust a guy like Krum (and no Harry, I'm not jealous).

Well...Ah, I remember! Will you believe me if I told you Ginny is still with Dean? I can't, and that's why I already sent a letter...ups, Ginny's coming, better not finish this sentence. Ok, I don't have anything else to tell you besides the fact that Lupin is all right. Mum said he must have caught some cold, but now he's ok. Anxiously awaiting your reply!

Ron

Harry rolled his eyes. Ron was making everything sound like it was a matter of life or death. He was ok, what else could he say? He wasn't going to say he barely ate or that he was working hard, because that would just cause a riot at the Burrow. However, he would answer the letter.

Grabbing another piece of parchment, Harry started writing his reply.

Hey Ron,

To answer your insistent questioning, I'm ok, and everything is going well. The Dursleys are the same, but they know how to take a threat, and Moody did help with that. So you can tell your mother not to worry. Now, about Hermione, I haven't received a single letter from her either, but I'm sure she's fine. Maybe she's just happy to know more about the culture of another country. And, who knows, maybe she hasn't finished her homework yet. So Ginny and Dean, are still a item, eh? Good to hear that.

Now, give a `hi' to all your family, Lupin and Tonks for me, since I doubt I'll see them before school starts..

See ya,

Harry

Harry looked at Pig who, oddly, was quiet and looking at him, expecting for the mail. Harry put the letter on the owl's leg that, after a `hoot', flew through the window.

"That was strange," Harry mumbled to himself, lying down on the bed. "Very strange." Giving a small yawn, Harry leaned his head on his pillow and fell fast asleep.

~*~

"What I've done for you. I've cried, screamed and bled but you didn't answer my pleas. But now I'll do it; I'll save myself. I already reached the end of my heart, and I know I can't die here. I know I have to fight against this fall, against this darkness, so I can go back to you. My thoughts are confusing my mind and my heart, but I know I can't die here. I know I have to go back for you. And I'll be there for you, just like this darkness will always be here for me.

I'm not going to let myself be swallowed by the darkness, just like my heart has been swallowed by the love I feel for you.

I'm going back for you, just like you always came to me and the others. You've never given up, and neither will I, because of you.

Because you're the reason, I survive this nightmare."

~*~

The sun hadn't come out, and Harry was already working in the garden, trying to keep his mind occupied from thinking about the events of the last year.

However, many times he would start to think about his best friends, especially Hermione. Was everything be ok with her? Why hadn't she sent any news or, just like Ron had said to him, sent something even if it was just to say, "I'm alive!"

What if something happened her and no one told him?

'No, of course not! Ron would have said something! He is just as worried as I am.'

Shaking his head, Harry started working on Aunt Petunia's begonias but a voice made him turn around.

"Harry, what the heck are you doing?"

When he could see who was calling him, Harry wanted to disappear. Tonks was on the other side of the fence, with Mad-Eye Moody, who was dressed in the same clothes he had on the last time Harry had seen him on the station.

Tonks, on the other hand, was black trousers and a purple blouse, just like her hair.

"Um...Hi?" Harry said tentatively, but he knew nothing was going to help him now.

"Potter, what the hell are you doing?" Moody asked. "The sun hasn't come out yet and you're working?"

"Um...yeah?" Harry replied without knowing how to react.

"You're answering or asking?" Tonks asked, shaking her head. "Why didn't you say something to us?"

Harry shrugged; the truth was that he didn't want to be a burden to anyone, and he certainly didn't want anyone else to die.

"For what?" he asked, standing up. "The school year is about to begin."

"In two weeks," Moody said "And what have you being eating? You look like a stick."

"Hmm..." Harry blushed of shame. "I have been doing exercise."

"Exercise made muscles, and not white skin," Moody replied.

"We're leaving," Tonks said. "And you're coming with us."

"No!" Harry exclaimed. He didn't want to leave because, among everything else, he was waiting for Sirius' reply.

"Don't argue with us, Potter," Moody scolded. "You're coming with us, and I'm going to have a little chitchat with your uncle. I think he didn't believe me at the station."

"No," Harry repeated again. "Please, I don't want to leave."

"You must be kidding," Tonks said, as her hair started to get a shade of red. "You're coming with us and that's final."

"No, I can't go," Harry said. "I'm waiting for Hedwig...I sent her to deliver some mail and..."

"She'll find the way," Moody interrupted. "You're going to the Burrow."

"But I can't," Harry said. "And I'm not going."

"What's making you stay here?" Tonks asked, as her hair turned to the same shade of dark purple it was before. "It must be something serious."

Harry looked down when the word reached his ears. He could still remember how he and Ron used to play with Sirius name, making it rhyme with `serious'.

"I'd rather not talk about it," Harry replied, still looking down. "I just want to stay here."

"And how do you expect to buy your supplies?" Moody asked. "You have to come with us."

"Don't worry about me," Harry replied, looking at them. "I can take care of myself."

"I don't doubt that, but I still don't like the idea of leaving you here, all alone."

"I may be alone, but I know how to defend myself," Harry said. "I'll be fine."

"Ok," Moody agreed, after a few seconds. "But I'll keep an eye open; if something goes wrong, someone will come and pick you up, whether you want to or not. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir," Harry replied, knowing Moody had won.

"And you have to promise you'll warn us if something happens to you," Tonks said. "Promise?"

Harry took a deep breath.

"I promise," he said finally.

"I do hope you're good on your word," Moody said before looking at Tonks. "C'mon, we have to see Arabella before going."

"Wait!" Harry exclaimed, and the two adults looked at him. "How's Lupin?"

"He's all right," Tonks said. "It was just a cold."

"Good," Harry said, giving a faint smile.

"See ya," Tonks said. With Moody at her side, they started approaching Mrs.. Figg's house.

When the two members of the Order disappeared, Harry looked at the sky. 'It's too soon for a reply. You've just sent her yesterday.' he thought, but even with that thought he didn't stop looking at the sky

~*~

The night had already come and Harry hadn't left his room, since he had finished all the tasked Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon had given him.

Since he had returned to what he called `room', Harry tried to use the mirror Sirius gave him, but he still didn't receive an answer.

When the moon was almost on the top of the sky, Hedwig came into the room, startling Harry, who had dozed off.

"Hedwig!" he exclaimed, not caring that he could wake his relatives. "Finally, did you find Sirius?" Harry could see a letter on his white owl's leg but, when she didn't make any move for him to take it, he knew she hadn't been able to find his godfather. The owl seemed to be sad for not being able to accomplish her task, but Harry petted her head, giving her some reassurance. "That's ok; I know you did your best."

When he took the letter from the owl, he opened a drawer where many letters were, all addressed to Sirius and none answered.

'Maybe it's time to move on.' Harry shook his head. 'No, Sirius wouldn't give up on me that easily. But I know he's...' he stopped his thoughts. He couldn't say it, he couldn't voice his fears. He didn't want to feel like the eleven year old boy he had once been, but at the moment, that's how he felt. Maybe it was time to go to Ron and start thinking about the next year.

Closing the drawer, Harry grabbed a piece of parchment and a quill, before start writing:

Hey Ron,

I know this is out of the blue, but I really needed to ask you a favor: can I go there? Nothing's wrong, but Tonks and Moody were here, and they want to take me to the Burrow. I said no, but now I keep thinking maybe it's not a bad idea. They know I'm here, and they'll start watching me. I can't bear the thought. So, if you (and your family) don't mind, can I go there?

Waiting for your answer,

Harry"

Harry looked at Hedwig, who was already on her cage and got up from the chair.

"Can you do me a favor, and go give this to Ron?" he asked and the owl looked at him. "I know that you're tired, but..." however before he could end the sentence, the white owl flew to his shoulder and Harry couldn't help but smile. "Thank you," he whispered, petting her on the head, after putting the letter on the her leg

Hedwig gave a small `hoot' and disappeared through the window, leaving Harry alone with his thoughts.

~*~

*"There's nothing you can do, Harry...nothing...he's gone...gone...gone..."*

Harry woke up with Lupin's voice in his mind. Those were the words he had to accept, but he couldn't. He couldn't believe that he was all alone, after everything he had been through. He couldn't be alone again, he just couldn't.

However, when Harry put his glasses on, a feeling of dizziness hit him hard and Harry put a hand over his head, while closing his eyes.

After a few seconds, he opened his eyes again but the dizziness didn't stop, on the contrary, it seemed to be getting worse.

"Who are you?" Uncle Vernon's voice asked. "What are you doing in my house?"

Harry could hear voices downstairs, voices that he couldn't understand, until Aunt Petunia screamed and Harry tried to get out of his bed.

Maybe they were Death Eaters that wanted to get him. If that was the case, he was prepared to fight them, even though he felt himself lose all his strength.

With his hand trembling, Harry grabbed his wand and looked at the door. Maybe it was Sirius trying to rescue him! Maybe he did find a way out of the veil! But Harry couldn't be sure, so he didn't lower his wand.

However, his knees seemed to weaken. It had to be because he hadn't eaten in three days, except a piece of bread and a glass of water.

But he wouldn't let himself be beaten because of that; he had to be alert.

Suddenly, the door of his room opened and, at the same time Harry pointed his wand towards it, a woman with flaming red hair appeared.

"Harry!" she exclaimed, but her voice didn't pass above a whisper for Harry. With some difficulty, he saw that the woman was Mrs. Weasley and behind her were Mr. Weasley, Ron and Ginny.

He wanted to say something, so Harry tried to open his mouth but nothing get out. Harry just felt all his strength disappear and, after some seconds, he fell backwards.

~*~

"There's nothing you can do, Harry...nothing...he's gone...gone...gone..."

"No, no, no!" Harry sat up in a jump, before extending his arms to his front. "No, Sirius please, come back!"

"Harry, please, wake up!" a female voice exclaimed. "Sirius isn't here."

Opening his eyes, Harry saw that he wasn't in his room anymore and that he wasn't alone.

"Harry?" a male voice asked. "Are you ok?"

Harry looked to his side to see Mrs. and Mr. Weasley, along with Ron and Ginny.

"Are you ok, mate?" Ron asked, while Ginny gave Harry his glasses.

"Yeah," the dark haired boy answered. "I'm fine."

"Well, I'm very disappointed with you Harry," Mrs. Weasley said. "Why didn't you say you were having problems?"

Harry looked ashamed.

"I'm sorry Mrs. Weasley, but I didn't want to become a burden to anyone."

"You'll never, ever, be a burden to us, Harry," Mrs. Weasley said. "You're like a son to me, and I was hurt when I saw that you were in need and didn't tell us anything."

"I'm sorry," Harry whispered, looking at his hands.

"There's no need to be sorry, Harry," Mr. Weasley said. "But you could have said something to us. You're a member of this family."

Harry looked up, when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"You're like a brother, Harry," Ginny said. "My brother."

"Same here," Ron agreed, waving.

"You see Harry, we're not taking you in because you're a burden," Mrs. Weasley said. "We're taking you in, because you're a member of this family."

Harry made a small smile.

"Thank you," he whispered, at the same time Mrs. Weasley hugged him.

"You're welcome son, you're welcome," she whispered in a trembling voice, and Harry was sure she was crying.

"Oh, c'mon mum!" Ron exclaimed. "If you start crying, we all are going to cry too!" Ginny sniffled and Ron pointed at her. "See? Ginny already is!"

"I'm not crying!" Ginny exclaimed, hitting her brother's arm.

"Of course you aren't," Ron answered sarcastically. "You had something in your eye."

Harry smiled when he saw that nothing had changed. Mrs. Weasley kissed his forehead and stepped back.

"Are you sure, you can walk?" she asked, wiping her tears.

"Yes," Harry answered. "How long have I been here?"

"Four days," Mr. Weasley answered.

"We were thinking about taking you to St. Mungos, but you started to stir," Mrs. Weasley said. "But that's not important anymore, you're awake and now you're going to eat. You're very thin for a person your age, and I don't want any of you to be sick."

"Finally!" Ron exclaimed. "I was starting to think dinner would never be served!"

"Dinner?" Harry asked. "What time is it?"

"Eight," Ginny answered, before looking at her brother. "Can't you stop thinking about food, for a second?"

"Well, excuse me if I'm hungry," Ron answered.

"Children," Mrs. Weasley interrupted. "Give me five minutes, and dinner will be served." She looked at Harry. "Why don't you go and take a bath dear? You'll feel better."

"Thank you, Mrs. Weasley," Harry answered and Molly kissed him on the forehead again, before looking at her children. "And you two are going to help me."

"Mum!" both exclaim, at the same time.

"Ok, I'm off," Ron said, approaching the door. "See ya at dinner, mate." and he's left the room.

"Wait Ron, I'm going too!" Ginny exclaimed, getting out of the room.

~*~

"I still don't understand why you didn't say anything to us about what was going on with you!" Ron said, while Harry sat on his bed in Ron's room.

"I didn't want to be a burden," Harry said, shrugging. "And I wanted to stay there, a few more days, because I was waiting for a reply."

"Oh?" Ron asked, looking suspiciously at his friend. "A girl's reply?"

Harry swallowed hard; he couldn't say the truth.

"Yeah, Hermione's," he lied. "I haven't recieved a single letter from her and I was getting worry."

"Any luck?" Ron asked, jumping to his bed. "I sent her some letters, and so did Ginny, but she hasn't answer a single one."

"No," Harry answered, feeling a bit ashamed for having not sent one letter too his best female friend. "But, who knows, maybe she's having some fun for change."

"Doubt it," Ron said. "The only fun Hermione knows is books. Krum would have to be superman to take Hermione away from a library."

"Oh, don't speak about her like that," Harry said. "Hermione loves books, that's ture but look how many times her knowledge has saved us in the past. We should be thanking the stars that she reads as much as she does!"

"You're right, but that doesn't make it sound crazy, if you think Hermione doesn't know how to have fun."

Harry shook his head.

"You'll see; she'll appear on Diagon Alley."

"Speaking of that, we're going tomorrow," Ron said.

"Already?" Harry asked, raising his eyebrow. "But we're..."

"August 27," Ron finished. "Besides, Luna and Dean said they're going tomorrow..."

"Ah yes, Luna Lovegood," Harry said, with a smile. "How's she?"

"Ok, I guess." Ron replied, with his ears turning red "We've been talking and we decided to go tomorrow to buy the supplies. Ginny sent Hermione a letter, but Pig hasn't come back yet so we don't know if she's going to meet us there."

"Oh, she will," Harry said. "I mean, Hermione wouldn't miss it, would she?"

"Yes, she would," a female voice said, and Ron and Harry turned to see Ginny at the door.

"How long have you been there?" Ron asked.

"Just now," Ginny answered, approaching the two boys.

"How do you know she isn't going to the Diagon Alley?" Harry asked.

"Because she answered my letter," Ginny answered, giving him the piece of parchment she had in her hand.

Harry grabbed the paper and cleared his throat, before reading it.

Dear Ginny,

I'm sorry for not answering your letters, or Ron's, but I have been busy.

I was preparing to return home, when Pig appeared and I thought it was better to answer now, before you started thinking what you shouldn't.

I'm not going to meet you in Diagon Alley, since I already have my supplies and books. I decided to buy everything when I was returning home, so I wouldn't waste too much time.

I hope we can meet at the station or, if that's not possible, meet at Hogwarts.

Kisses to everyone,

Hermione

"That...was vague," Ron said, while Harry put the letter on his lap.

"Yeah, I thought that too," Ginny said. "But at least she answered the letter."

"Yeah, but...," Harry said, before shaking his head. "I'm getting paranoid."

"What?" Ron asked and Harry looked at him.

"I don't know, but this letter...it doesn't sound like Hermione at all."

"What do you mean?" Ginny asked, confused. "She said she was busy, maybe she's preparing herself to be a Prefect again."

"Yeah," Ron agreed "I still have to pinch myself, sometimes, because I can't believe I'm a Prefect again."

However, before Harry could answer, a dark brown owl entered through the window.

"Who's that?" Ginny asked.

"It's from Hogwarts," Ron said, taking the letter from the owl. "It's for you, Harry."

"Me?" Harry asked, pointing to himself while grabbing the letter. Slowly, Harry opened the letter and read the contents.

Dear Mr. Potter,

Despite the conversation we had on the end of the last year, which you must remember, I have to announce you're the second Gryffindor Prefect.

This information came due to resignation of one of the School Prefects.

Please, despite of everything that has happened, I ask for you to accept this nomination.

For any information about being a Prefect, ask Mr. Weasley, since I know you're with him at the moment.

Albus Dumbledore

Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry"

"What?" Harry asked. "They made me a Prefect?"

`Why?" Ginny asked.

"Wait until Hermione hears this." Ron said.

"But I can't be a Prefect!" Harry exclaimed. "This...this is insane!"

"Dumbledore said there, that it's because of some resignation," Ginny said.

"Yeah, but who was it?" Ron asked.

"That doesn't matter!" Harry exclaimed. "I can't be a Prefect. That's insane!"

"Why?" Ginny asked, confused.

"I have too much to think about right now," Harry answered "I can't be a Prefect."

"But you are, and you're going to accept that," Ron said. "Can you imagine? You, Hermione and I; we'll be together!"

"I don't know…," Harry said. He didn't feel prepared to be a Prefect, besides who resigned in the first place?

"C'mon Harry, accept it," Ron said.

"I know you're going to be a great Prefect," Ginny finished and Harry took a deep breath.

"Ok," he said after a few seconds. "I'll do it."

"That's the spirit!" Ron exclaimed.

"Yeah, Hogwarts students beware," Ginny said, giggling. "The `Trio of Hogwarts' is together, and prepared to fight the bad guys."

He was going to accept the place, but he would have to talk with Dumbledore.

~*~

"How can I see in this darkness, the light of hope? How can I see a light of life, if I'm in the middle of the dead? How can I believe I'll breathe again, if I'm sleeping among those who have lost?

Right now, I don't feel anything. Right now, I know I'm alone. I want to escape, but I know that's not possible, and so I give up my battle.

I want to go back, I want to feel the warnth of your arms and the beating of your heart, but how can I do that if I'm frozen in my soul? How can I do that, if my heart doesn't beat anymore?
I want to wake up, I want to go back to life, but I can't. I'm sleeping between my fears and nightmares, and I know I can't escape.

All I have to do is ask for forgiveness, since I know I'll never see the light of hope again."

~*~

A/N: So, liked it? I had to cut this chapter here, because it was too damn long. According to my beta-reader, this chapter is 35 pages long (or more) so *nervous laugh* I decided to cut it here. I'll post the rest of this chapter, soon (at least, I think so). Please review. Thank you.