Chapter 8
The seven awoke the next morning bright and early by Tonks. After receiving the big news about their fate the night before they just didn't seem to be in a celebratory mood. They had a lot to contemplate not to mention the weight that they felt on their shoulders with the future of the wizarding world as well as the muggle world laid in their hands.
Harry should have been relieved that he could share part of the burden, but he didn't dare. He knew that he was the chosen one and he would be alone to face Voldemort in the end, but he could grow accustomed to the idea that everything didn't rest on his hands alone. He wondered how the others were taking the news, but didn't dare open his powers up to invade their private space. He didn't need his powers though, their feelings were written all over their faces. They were confused, afraid and quite overwhelmed with the responsibility that had been thought was his alone. They were willing to fight with him, but that was when they weren't burdened with their own destinies.
He also saw the way they went to bed. Ron and Lavender didn't even try to devour each other. They just laid a very chaste kiss on each other's lips and went to their separate rooms. Draco and Ginny were the same as was Hermione. Neville was quiet and didn't even bother to say good night to any of them.
Tonks tried to plead with Dumbledore to tell him that they should be given a day to let the information sink in, but he argued that giving them something to do physically may help their minds focus better. He didn't want to lay so much burden on the young people, but he'd rather have them prepared rather than be caught in the crossfire not knowing what to do. It was hard enough trying to explain it to their parents or grandmother in Neville's case, but having to explain to the kids was even harder.
Molly and Arthur were divided in their feelings. They've always thought they'd join the Order in order to prevent their children from being hurt. They would like to have been given a choice as Bill and Charlie to join the Order, but with the prophecy they had little choice in their destiny. They didn't want to lose their only daughter or their youngest son, but at the same time they were proud and honored that they were chosen to fight with Harry. In the end, they'd promise to do whatever they could to help Dumbledore with the children. Molly volunteered to stay if only to help with the meals and the housekeeping while keeping her regular assignment for the order. Arthur volunteered to help out with the training as much as possible even with his duties for the Order and as temporary Minister of Magic.
The Grangers on the other hand were scared to death about losing their only child. They didn't think they'd be able to handle it if they lost their pride and joy. Dumbledore told them as gently as he could that she did not have a choice in the matter. It was her fate to join in the fight and all they could do is to have faith in their god and in her abilities to get through the ordeal in one piece. He also reminded them that her feelings for Harry might be enough to send her into the crusade even without the prophecy. That much helped them understand. They knew how devoted Hermione was to Harry, but was she willing to die for him? That thought was put to rest when they remembered the kiss they shared when they saw each other for the first time in only a few weeks. She would certainly give her life for him.
The Browns and Neville's grandmother were a different story. They were very proud of the children. The Browns believed that the prophecy would teach Lavender more responsibility and sense of purpose. They'd never been able to teach her to have ambition. She'd always be more interested in fashion, makeup and boys. Though they didn't want to lose her, they wanted her to have more back bone and use her intelligence in other ways besides her vanity.
Neville's grandmother was so proud. She never thought her klutz and forgetful grandson would ever live up to the Longbottom name. She was even afraid that he'd been a squib, but she's seen a vast improvement since his fifth year. She hadn't understood why he'd had so little confidence in his abilities. She blamed herself for being such a nag and so hard on him, but she'd also blame Voldemort for taking away his parents from him. She was glad Neville was going to be part of the team that would surely be Voldemort's destruction. Although, she didn't like the fact that they were still all so young and the danger was so much beyond her comprehension, she would leave it up to fate and hope that she would still have her grandson by her side in the end.
Tonks gathered the troops down for breakfast. They looked bleary eyed as if they hadn't slept a wink. She really didn't want to put them to work soon, but orders were orders. She'd taken the night shift for her Auror duties and the training for the kids were her Order assignment that she couldn't dismiss easily. She sighed and hoped that the kids would be all right.
"Okay, Molly made us a great breakfast so why don't you all try to enjoy it." She smiled hoping it would help lift up their spirits.
"Aunt Molly is here?"
"Yes, she'll be spending the days over here preparing our meals and cleaning up around the house. She won't be sleeping over here so that everything will still look as normal as possible to the outside world."
"I haven't seen mum, have you?" Ginny asked Ron.
"No, you won't see her," Tonks answered. "She volunteered to prepare meals and such, but the stipulation is that she would not interfere with your training. You'll only see her once in a while."
Ginny wanted to cry. She'd wanted her mum to hold her close last night and tell her everything was going to be all right. Harry could see how much she wanted her mum; he'd seen the look many times in the past in the mirror when he looked at himself.
"Tonks, can we visit with Aunt Molly at least for today?" Harry asked.
"I'll see what I can do, but it will have to be at lunchtime. We need to get started straight away." She noticed that they were just picking on their food and hardly putting it in their mouth even Ron who ate ravenously at all times. "Aren't you lot hungry?" They shook their heads.
"Okay, then why don't you all go upstairs and change into something comfortable. Meet me in the parlor in lets say 20 minutes?" They all mumbled, "Okay" as they shuffled their way back up to their rooms. Tonks sighed and hoped they'd get through the day okay.
Tonks took Hermione, Lavender and Ginny and went to one side of the yard. Ron, Neville and Draco were to meet with Remus in the other side of the yard and Harry was to meet with Mad-Eye in the basement. They all looked at each other in surprise. They didn't understand why they were being separated in such a way, but they didn't question any of it.
Harry walked through the now familiar hallway down the steps to the basement. Instead of a basement that he saw before with wine racks and different knick-knacks, the room had been transformed into some type for gym filled with different types of weapons - spears, psi, bows and arrows, axes, swords and more. Harry was a bit confused. He thought he'd be using magic with the training.
"Ah, Harry. It's nice of you to join me at last. I was beginning to think you were going to sleep all day." Harry didn't answer but kept looking at the weapons.
"I know what you're thinking. What do these weapons have to do with magic, right?" All Harry could do was nod in response.
"Well, Harry part of your training will be to learn how to wield these weapons since your wand is really useless against Voldemort. If you can at least master a few of the weapons, then maybe you have a better chance of dominating him without your wand."
Harry remained silent for a moment. He didn't think it was the time to correct Mad-Eye that he can do magic without the use of the wand. He will practice with the weapons until he is ready, maybe he can even use the weapons when he needed. It was after all to his advantage to be able to fight in the wizarding world as well as the muggle world.
"Okay, so what should I learn first?"
"That's what I like to hear. We will start with the sword since you may have use for that yet." Mad-Eye was thinking about the sword of Godric Gryffindor himself going to Harry in his second year. He didn't know how to use the sword then, but with training he might be a force to be reckoned with even without magic if he could wield the sword of Gryffindor.
Mad-Eye looked closely. Though he heard Harry utter the words, he didn't really hear the kind of enthusiasm that he would have had before he'd learned of his friends' roles in the prophecy.
"First, is there anything you want to talk about? I know you'd probably like to talk to Remus about personal things, but I want you to know that I am not all about vigilance and dark arts. You can talk to me about other things if you wish."
"Thanks." He hesitated a little. "I just don't know what to do about my friends."
"I see. You mean the hard way they took the news about their part in this war?"
"Yes. If I could, I wouldn't want them to be so close to it. I know they will be part of it, but at least without all the prophecy they would have been free to choose whether or not to be part of it."
"Well, Harry if it makes you feel any better, destinies can be modified a bit, but not completely. For instance, they could be there because their presence in the fulfillment of the prophecy is needed, but it doesn't say anything in the prophecy about them not being protected by you or anyone else, does it? And the more you train and learn the better your chances of protecting them and fulfilling your own destiny."
Harry thought about it a moment and he understood what Mad-Eye was trying to tell him. His friends certainly could be part of the fight, but it didn't mean he could not find a way to protect them from harm. It was his fight in the end after all; they didn't have to be in the fight. He'd have to talk to Merlin about alternatives.
"Do you feel a bit better?" asked Mad-Eye after a few minutes of silence.
"A bit," he answered.
"Okay, then let's go over what you're training will be. I will of course be training you on some hand to hand and weapons. I will have some help of course from younger people who are well matched for your physique. Bill and Charlie will be popping in alternately for assistance. You will also need to be tutored in potions, dark arts, transfiguration and charms."
"Does it mean I have to see Snape?" Mad-Eye chuckled. He was aware of the animosity between the two.
"Unfortunately, yes. He is one of the best after all and who better to learn from. Let's begin shall we."
On one side of the yard Tonks explained to the girls the physical part of their training as well as their other tutoring. They will have a modified training regime that will enhance their place of expertise. Though Hermione excelled in most subjects, she was still unable to master the art of flying. Lavender needed to have additional tutoring with her divination studies as well as her transfiguration and charms. Ginny needed the same except with the additional of potions and dark arts. They were all expected to be up early to exercise before breakfast in order to build their strength and stamina. In addition to their tutoring they will have special Dark Arts and dueling training with the other three boys.
On the other side of the yard Remus was also explaining the three boys' training plan. They would have the same physical training as the others before breakfast, but they would also have the dueling training and Dark Arts training with the girls. Ron would need potions, transfiguration, charms and herbology. Draco needed tutoring in transfiguration, charms, herbology and care for magical creatures. Neville needed extra tutoring in charms, potions, flying and transfigurations. They grumbled comments about being in school and were reminded that they'd need to excel in all those subjects in order to make it into the auror training.
They were also told that the tutoring would only be one subject a day. The rest of the time will be spent with defense against the dark arts training and dueling. They'd forgotten about their initial reaction towards the end of the day. They were too exhausted physically to think about complaining.
Ginny was able to spend a bit of time with her mum after lunch and helped her be a bit grounded. She also spent a bit of time with Draco, which helped he a bit more. He was being sweet though he told her that her mom was still trying to avoid him. She told him they'd come around in time. They shared a snogging session before they went back outside to join the others in training.
Harry caught Hermione after lunch. He wanted to make sure she was okay. He didn't like the way she looked last night, he didn't like the way anyone of them looked, but he thought he'd start with Hermione and catch the others later. He knew that Lavender and Ron made their escape to be with each other and so did Ginny and Draco. Neville on the other hand decided to keep Tonks company. Harry smiled to himself seeing the crush that Neville was having on Tonks. He'd been enthralled at the way Tonks changed her appearance and her lightheartedness.
"'Mione, you okay?" he asked as he led her to the library.
"Okay, I guess. A bit tired. Tonks has been working us to the bone," she answered trying to keep things light.
"You know what I mean `Mione."
"I know. Right now, it's just too much for me to take in."
"You know I would give anything not to put you through anything, especially in danger."
"Not this time Harry. I've always thought you were destined for something great and that I would be by your side every step of the way because I wanted to. I never thought I'd have to fight by your side because I had no choice in the matter. Don't get me wrong Harry, I love you and I would do anything for you. I would even die for you."
"Don't say that `Mione, please. Don't ever say that."
"But I would Harry, only I want it to be my choice."
"I know. But you know we don't have much of a choice in this matter. If it would make you feel better you don't to face Voldemort and either win and live or lose and die."
Hermione was feeling selfish. She'd known about the prophecy regarding Harry and she'd thought it unfair that whoever weaved the fates made it so that he had to go through so much at a young age. She looked at him now and he had a smile on his face to make her feel better about what she had to do. She stepped back and looked at their situation and imagined how Harry felt about having everything weighing down on his shoulder. She realized that her part was just a minor part in contrast to what he had to do. She felt foolish and stupid that she'd even complained about not having the choice to be with him in the fight. Then she thought what would have happened had the prophecy not been made, she probably wouldn't be allowed near Harry when it was time for him to face Voldemort. She would not have stood by to have that happened, she knew at that moment that fate did have a way of working the way it was supposed to be.
She sighed and gave Harry a hug and a light kiss on the lips. "Thank you," she whispered.
"For what?"
"For being who you are and for loving me. I don't know what I would do without you in my life."
"I don't know what I'd do without you in my life as well."
"I guess it is fate."
"Yes, it is and no matter what happens during the next months or so, I want you to know that I will love you forever." He kissed her deeply and thoroughly. Passion ignited instantly and had it not been for Neville knocking at the door to interrupt them, they might have gone beyond the kiss.
A/N: Thanks for the wonderful reviews. I hope you are enjoying this as much as I am.