Chapter 15
AN: This is one of the last chapters (there'll be one or two more at most) of this story. I have to admit I'll be sad to see it go…however I hope you enjoy this chapter.
To the people who didn't want this to happen… (not the chapter the plot increasing)..what can I say? I'm not changing the storyline to fit what you want to happen.
Sorry if there are loads of errors in this, grammatical and what not. I'm really sick and so yeah I'm a bit stuffed up and my beta is away at the moment…so yeah. Sorry bout that. I'd wait…but well then you'd have to wait...soooo…
~0~
Harry was grinning from ear to ear the next morning at breakfast, despite Hermione's glares and quiet words of "Would you stop it?! You look like a maniac!" he couldn't keep the grin off his face. He was just so damn happy!
He heaped a pile of food onto his plate; even Ron raised an eyebrow at the amount. It was less than his own, but not by much. Meaning…a hell of a lot of food.
"Oi Harry. What's up with you today?" Seamus asked incredulously as Harry, who was usually reasonably silent at breakfast but today was chatting to everyone in close proximity.
"Nothing! I'm just happy." Harry said chirpily.
Seamus looked at him for a moment, silently scrutinizing him. A look of realization washed over his face, "You got laid!" he exclaimed.
Hermione turned a mysterious shade of fuchsia, "Seamus!" she reprimanded him, "That is most certainly not a breakfast conversation. In fact! It's not a conversation at all. What Harry and I do or don't do sexually is none of your business." She finished hotly.
Seamus rolled his eyes and leaned closer, "So? How was it?" he whispered.
Harry ignored the question and pretended not to hear Hermione as she started to yell at Seamus about manners. He looked up to the normal mail delivery and was surprised to see Hedwig swooping down to him. When she landed and he'd removed the letter she helped herself to some of his pumpkin juice and a piece of bacon before nipping him affectionately on the hand and taking back off up to the owlery with many other owls.
Harry raised an eyebrow at the letter; he couldn't think who he'd sent a letter to lately. A few years ago he could have said Sirius…but well he hadn't really sent much mail lately, Remus was out of contact for the moment. He was involved in the preparing for the war Harry supposed. But back to the letter at hand. Harry quickly scanned his mind for who the letter could possibly be from. Then it clicked with him and he looked up to the staff table where Dumbledore's seat was empty as were a few of the other teachers' seats.
Harry looked back down to the letter in front of him and opened it.
Harry,
Thank you very much for your information. We already had some idea of the upcoming news however your news provided more secure knowledge of this. Please meet me in my office after breakfast. The password is 'Frothing Pineapples'.
Professor Dumbledore
Frothing pineapples? Harry raised an eyebrow as he read this; he obviously wasn't as up to date on his wizard sweets as Dumbledore was. He sighed at the prospect of having to go and meet Dumbledore again. He'd seen the inside of his office far too much of his liking…but at least this year he hadn't been into the hospital wing much.
Hermione, who had finished lecturing Seamus, spotted the letter in Harry's hand.
"Who's that from?" she asked, taking a bite of her toast.
Harry sighed, "Dumbledore. He wants me to meet him in his office after breakfast."
Hermione looked concerned, "What for? You're not in trouble are you?" Her voice became annoyed at this, "Because I told you that-"
"No I'm not in trouble." Harry interrupted her, "He just wants to 'talk'"
Hermione pursed her lips, "Alright well try not to be too long, you don't want to miss out on all of Care of Magical Creatures. We'll tell Hagrid where you are."
Ron grunted in agreement with her. Hermione rolled her eyes, "Honestly Ron! What have I told you about proper English? No one ever understands a thing you say! Why I wouldn't be surprised-"
Harry chose to ignore their argument which was becoming well underway and he finished his breakfast off with rapid speed. He muttered a goodbye to them but they were to rapt up in their bickering. Harry left the Great Hall deep in thought when he, literally, bumped into Draco and Ginny.
"Hello you two." Harry said, glancing at their joined hands, "I see you're getting along."
Draco shot him a withering look, "How subtle of you."
Ginny laughed and Harry could see just from the way they casually talked and the atmosphere around them that they were okay again. Their relationship that had been on ice, now seemed resolved.
"Where are you going?" Ginny asked.
Harry forced a smile, "To see Dumbledore."
"Is the Golden Boy in trouble?" Draco teased.
Harry rolled his eyes, "Yes," he drawled, "I'm in trouble. Now if you excuse me I'm going to be late."
"See you in Potions Potter." Draco called to Harry's back as he continued towards the headmaster's office.
~0~
"Ah Harry." Dumbledore said opening the door to Harry's knock, "Come in come in."
Harry was less than amused to see none other than Severus Snape sitting at one of the chairs in front of Dumbledore's desk.
"What is he doing here?" Harry asked.
"Severus is here because I asked him to be Harry, "Dumbledore said pointedly and shut the door behind them, "Please take a seat."
Harry reluctantly sat down in the only remaining chair next to Snape.
"We need to talk." Dumbledore said gravely.
'Great…just great.' Harry sighed to himself.
"What about?" Harry asked dubiously.
Dumbledore let out a sigh and leaned forward and looked at Harry over his half-moon glasses, "You know that the war is soon…sooner than expected."
Harry looked at Snape sitting next to him, the typical scowl on his face, "Headmaster. You know I don't approve of this." He said; his voice filled with disapproval.
Dumbledore kept his gaze firmly on Harry. Harry looked back at Dumbledore, a feeling of dread slowly crawling down his spine.
"Sir?" Harry asked.
Dumbledore's eyes weren't twinkling, one of the few times Harry had seen this.
"I'm an old man Harry." Dumbledore said, sounding almost torn, "My judgment may be clouded."
Harry frowned slightly, "I don't understand sir."
"The prophecy Harry, "Dumbledore said quietly, "The one you learnt of in your fifth year. I believe it's time…"
Harry sat there shell-shocked, "You're going to send me out to die?" he asked, his voice sounding horrified.
Dumbledore's face remained concerned and calculating, "Not to die no. You know the prophecy…you know what it entails."
"Kill or be killed." Harry's voice was filled with anything but amusement.
"Albus! Come now!" Snape said standing up, "We can't just rest the wait of the world on him." He was practically spitting, "Surely-"
He was interrupted by Dumbledore who cut him off, "Severus you know as well as I do that this is all we can do."
Harry looked between the two adults, "Don't I have a say in this?" He asked, his temper getting the best of him.
They both stared at him silently, waiting for more.
"Screw it. I'm not." Harry said defiantly standing up, "I've got too much to lose."
Snape turned on him, "The world is much more important than a few friends and a girlfriend Potter! I always knew you were too immature to actually handle the fame properly. Swaggering around here like nobody's business! You-"
"Yeah?" Harry yelled, cutting him off, "Well you know what? YOU fight the war. I'll stay here."
Dumbledore interrupted the two, "This is not the time." He said, his voice tired, "Harry. Of course I cannot force you to do this. It is your choice. But I ask you; think carefully about your decision."
Harry glared at Dumbledore then at Snape, "Fine." He said, his temper flaring inside of him, little voices yelling out things to say in his brain.
He turned on his heel and stormed out the door. Once outside he instantly felt guilty. He was being selfish and he knew it…but he'd always done what everyone wanted…maybe it was time for him to be selfish…
He sighed and walked down the stairs, his mind racing with thoughts and considerations.
Inside Dumbledore's office, the headmaster and Snape were still staring at the door.
"He'll do what's right." Dumbledore said finally.
Snape harrumphed loudly.
"Sherbet Lemon?"
And to both of their surprises, he took one.