And here is the end of the `terribly cruel cliffhanger!' (Yes, that's a quote from someone who emailed me, and quite probably a review or two, too!). I'm hoping you all like it, even if it doesn't make complete sense right away. Just trust that it'll all come out by the end of the chapter... at least, as much as it's going to...
Also, just as an aside, it was interesting to see how many people were worried about Hermione's death, while almost no one said anything at all about being worried for Harry's sake - not to say no one did, but it was very interesting to look at nonetheless...
Enjoy the chapter!
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Chapter Thirty Nine: Or Did You Break Free?
It started with a cry of sheer terror, though it didn't have the normal effect on him at all. Usually, upon hearing one's best friend cry out in fear, one would wake up instantly and try to figure out just what was going on.
Harry Potter fought against that natural instinct with every fibre of his being. He shouldn't be able to wake up to a cry in the first place - not after willingly laying down his life so he could pass on next to the young woman he loved. He clenched his fists tightly at his sides, wracking his mind for any memory of just how he had ended up... well, wherever he was.
Keeping his eyes determinedly closed, he focussed in on himself, feeling the gut wrenching pain in his chest that had little to do with the grievous injury that he had taken there, and more to do with the large hole that had been torn through him at Hermione's death.
"It's okay, Ronald, it's okay." If Harry was surprised to hear Luna's dreamy voice still sound so dreamy, he put the thought out of his mind immediately. While it was good to know they were both alright wherever they were, he found that he couldn't really care about it just then. He wasn't supposed to be able to care about anything by now... what was going on?
"Wha?" Ron's voice sounded scared and tired, and Harry assumed he had just been woken up from a nightmare of sorts. That really made sense given where the two of them had just come from, what they had both been put through, but again, Harry found that, even if it was heartless of him, he didn't care. There wasn't much point in having a heart anymore...
He felt an overwhelming need to be sick suddenly, but couldn't find the energy to actually get up. Instead, he turned his head to the left and opened his mouth, letting his own vomit just pour from him. Although it was a rather disgusting feeling to have it pool next to his head, it was something else to concentrate on instead of the large ache in his chest.
There was no question as to where he was anymore - not really, anyway. The bed smelled strongly enough, but the fact that both Ron and Luna were in the room as well told him that they were obviously in the hospital wing at Hogwarts again. Someone must have found him and pried his hand free of Hermione's to rescue him... and when he found out who, he'd blast them apart for separating him from her!
He had been in the very bed he was currently lying in more times than he cared to think about, really, so he knew something was oddly... different, this time. He could feel his sickness dripping off the edge of the bed slowly, falling to the floor with a satisfying splatter, which made no sense at all. Madame Pomfrey always - always - put patients in the middle of the bed, so there was really no way it should be dripping off the edge already.
Slowly, he uncurled his right fist and splayed his hand against the bed carefully. His heart had practically stopped beating, and he was sure he wasn't breathing anymore as he dared to think something almost... positive. The mattress was sloping towards him, which he had expected, given that he was lying on the bed, but it was also sloped away from him... almost as though there was someone else in the bed with him.
Harry turned his head back to be able to look at the ceiling slowly, so slowly that he was sure neither Ron nor Luna - who were now whispering to each other about things Harry couldn't care about just then - could notice, and paused for a moment to listen carefully.
All he could hear now was his heart pounding in his ears, blocking out almost every other sound. He kept turning his head until he could look to his right if he were to open his eyes. He felt the cool air catch the moisture on his cheek caused by his own sickness, and winced slightly at the terrible feeling it caused.
He had hoped for a lot of strange things during his sixteen years alive on the planet. Hoping for a real birthday party from the Dursley's had been the first wish to be completely dashed. Later, after learning he was a wizard, he found himself hoping to be normal, to fit in amongst those of his own kind. That hope, too, had been dashed upon learning the true origin of the scar on his forehead.
None of that hope had been real, though, and he realised that as he kept his eyes shut firmly. How could it have been when now he was hoping for a miracle beyond all miracles... a gift beyond all gifts? How could the thought of being normal be considered hopeful when the thought of Hermione lying next to him, alive and well, was so much more important?
One green eye cracked open carefully, as though trying to gauge the situation before taking a full plunge. All he could really make out with the eye that was practically plastered to his pillow was fabric and what might have been brown, bushy hair... but he couldn't tell, because it was all blurry! If only he could see clearly without glasses!
Not entirely sure he was willing to face the all-too-likely disappointment if he opened his other eye and found himself alone, he forced himself onwards anyway. Even a chance - slim as it may have been - was worth taking to see his Hermione's face again as she slept next to him in bed.
His breath caught in his throat as he opened his eyes completely. It couldn't really be true, could it? He reached out with his right hand slowly and carefully, sure he must be dreaming - or possibly dead and this was someone's strange idea of an afterlife - and touched the hand he found easily on the bed. His heart soared at the surprise he found there...
Her hand was warm, and seemed to curl around his, holding him where he was even in her sleep. It wasn't possible, was it? He had watched as a dozen or more green jets of light had struck her... he had seen her dead, lifeless form, hadn't he? He really couldn't help himself, and he squeezed her hand back in return, harder than he normally would have. He had to have proof that she was still alive... that the beautiful witch beside him was exactly who he thought it was. Although she was a little blurred, he found if he squinted just right he was almost positive...
He barely remembered to breathe when he heard her moan softly, still too deeply asleep to really grasp the concept that someone had a hold of her hand. Rather than give up, that only bolstered his confidence, and he gave her hand another squeeze, more gentle this time, urging her to wake up and say... do... anything!
Hermione moaned again softly and then turned, rolling towards him to end up on her side. Even though it was blurry, he could see her open her eyes slowly, as though still trying to figure out for herself what was going on. The moment her eyes met his, though, she let out a tremendous squeal and launched herself towards him.
"Harry, you're finally awake!"
"And you're alive!"
Even if they were both practically shouting in each other's ears, it was obvious that neither of them cared about the volume one way or the other. He had his arms wrapped around her so tightly he was almost afraid he'd snap her in half, but her hold on him was equally fierce. He barely even registered the fact that he didn't have a shirt on - though he knew she was wearing her blue camisole, he could tell that just by the feel of it, without even looking - but neither fact was great on his mind anyway.
He was vaguely aware of Ron saying something to him, but he couldn't pay any attention to his friend, even though he hadn't seen him in over a month, even though he knew he probably should say something now that they were safe and sound again. But he couldn't... it is really hard to speak, after all, when you are engaged in a passionate, fit-to-be-tied liplock with the woman of your dreams.
Just when Harry thought he had never been so happy in his entire life, Hermione suddenly pulled away from him and made an odd face.
"What's wrong?" he asked, surprised by that look.
"I'm not that big a fan of vomit, Harry, not even my own," she said, a soft smile on her face. Before he could even reply to that, she reached over to her night stand and picked up her wand. "Evanesco." Immediately, he felt the sticky substance on his shoulder and the side of his face vanish, and knew that the rest that was on the side of the bed and floor had gone as well.
It was a few minutes later before anyone said anything else. Not to say that no one had anything to say... but Harry and Hermione's mouths were otherwise occupied, and Ron and Luna appeared to just be looking in the other direction, waiting for the rather affectionate display to end.
"This isn't a dream, is it?" Harry asked quietly as he eased himself into a sitting position and leaned against his headboard. Hermione pulled herself up with him and leaned against his shoulder after handing him his glasses. Rather than answer, though, she trailed one of her fingers down his chest, stopping in the centre. Looking down, he saw a jagged scar right in the middle of his ribs that was a couple of inches long. "I knew that part happened... but what...?"
"What about Hermione?" Harry looked away from the witch leaning against him in surprise to see Ron seating himself on the edge of the bed. He had already helped Luna sit down in the middle of the bed, where she'd be more stable.
"That too..." Harry said slowly, his senses coming to life again now that his mind was more at ease. "What about you two? You both look... well... fine!"
"Poison's clear and injuries have been healed," Ron replied quickly, not meeting Harry's eye as he spoke. "We're both alive and free again, thanks to you."
"That quickly?"
"Quickly?" Ron repeated, finally looking up to meet Harry's gaze. His friend's normally joyful, teasing look had been replaced by an almost haunted feeling. Harry had the distinct impression that that might never go away... but he really hoped it would before too long. "Mate, you've been lying in that bed without moving a muscle for almost two weeks!"
Harry closed his eyes and leaned his head back to hit the wall gently. "I can believe that," he whispered. "I didn't think I'd ever wake up again, so two weeks isn't that bad." He paused when he realised that no one was going to say anything... that he was among his closest friends. "I didn't think I'd ever want to wake up again, either."
"Harry, no, that's..."
"The truth, Mione," Harry said firmly, cutting off whatever it was she was about to say. "I saw you... struck... dead... how could I go on after that?"
There were tears in her eyes, and Harry found he couldn't say anything else at that sight. It was Ron, in the end, who finally spoke up. "We've all seen things we shouldn't have ever had to deal with," he said softly. "And some things we will never see again."
Harry saw Ron's eyes flicker to Luna briefly before settling on the bed sheets again. She appeared to be looking all over the hospital ward, a look that he couldn't place at all on her face. Unlike Ron, she didn't have a haunted look about her... but something seemed decidedly off.
"Everything alright, Luna?"
"Hmm?" she asked, the dreamy touch to her voice still present. "Of course, Harry. Ronald and I have recovered our health, Hermione is alive and well, and now you are awake, too. There is nothing else I could need at this time."
"You just seem to be looking all over the place... what's wrong?" He heard Ron and Hermione's breath catch in their throats, and knew instantly that he had put his foot in something that they had hoped to avoid for a while longer, at least. He knew they wouldn't hide things from him for long, but this must be something they were worried about. "What's going on?"
"We... we should probably start at the beginning," Hermione offered into the silence that followed Harry's question. Luna didn't seem too troubled by what Harry had asked, but she didn't make any move to answer him, either. Obviously, she was waiting for either Ron or Hermione - who had known him longer - to make the first move. "And I don't think I can do that."
"How about we start right after you took off from the group?" Ron suggested, looking to Harry pointedly. Harry nodded and Ron took a deep breath as he closed his eyes. "Mind you, I'm probably not the best to explain it either, but at least I was conscious the full time. Luna and I were brought up here as soon as we arrived, and Madame Pomfrey and Talisien set to work on both of us right away."
"Set to work?"
"Healing, extracting poison, you know..." Ron said a little uncomfortably. He went on after a minute and a couple of deep breaths. "Snape came up a few minutes later, muttering something about Dumbledore and nonsense, but I wasn't too clear just then."
"Taking this level of poison out of a body is a painful process," Hermione explained at Harry's glance. He nodded and looked back to Ron, who had his eyes on Luna at this stage.
"Talisien was working on Luna directly, as Madame Pomfrey said he was better at fast, in depth healing than she could manage without looking a few things up first," Ron said slowly, as though still not sure just why the decision had been made. "Anyway, I'm glad Luna was out of it, because like Hermione said, getting that poison out hurt like bloody hell."
"Sorry," Harry said automatically.
"For what?" Luna asked softly, looking to him. Her great grey eyes finally focussed on him, Harry saw that something was strange right away. The life that he could always see in Hermione's eyes... or really anyone's eyes he really looked at... was missing. "You saved our lives, Harry. You and the rest of the DA, but you lead them. It's thanks to you that we're here at all, still."
Harry looked away from Luna's gaze after a moment, and saw that both Ron and Hermione were looking at him again, as though afraid of what he might have figured out by looking at Luna. On that thought, he looked back to her again, but she was looking around herself again.
Ron started talking again, about the healing process and the DA all standing just outside the hospital wing until they were sent away by other professores, but Harry was only partially listening. His mind was racing as he kept replaying Luna's lifeless gaze over and over again. There wasn't much that could do that to someone, was there? What had happened differently to Luna than it had to Ron?
The bottom dropped out of his stomach as Ron started explaining the process of waking Luna up from her stasis sleep. That was what was different... the draught of stability used to keep Luna alive... side effects...
... As it can have lasting effects such as dizziness, partial loss of hearing, or blindness... Harry own words - taken straight from Hermione's mind - from potions class near the beginning of the year suddenly sounded very loud in his thoughts. "Merlin..." Harry breathed softly, closing his eyes. Ron's explanation suddenly stopped at his words, and Harry felt all the blood drain from his own face. "Luna... you're blind..."
Ron and Hermione both started talking at once, and from what Harry could tell, they were trying to make sure he didn't feel guilty for what had happened. Luna's lifeless gaze was back on him again, and he could tell that that was exactly what was going on... she couldn't see a thing...
"I am alive," Luna said softly, effectively stopping both Ron and Hermione's words instantly with her own explanation. "There were many times when I thought I would never get to say that again. As I told you earlier, Harry... there is nothing else I could need right now."
"But I gave you the... and now you're... oh Luna, I'm so sorry..."
Luna shook her head and smiled softly to him. "Not as sorry as I am," she said. "I'm sorry you feel responsible. But if you hadn't acted as you did... I wouldn't be able to say that I am alive. I would never be able to say anything ever again."
Harry took a deep breath and let it out slowly as an pain gripped his chest again. This pain, however, had nothing to do with an emptiness he felt, and everything to do with the injury he had taken. He let the pain grip him as he exhaled, taking it as a form of punishment for his actions, and once it had faded completely, he nodded. "We'll talk more about it later," he promised. Luna nodded, and Harry felt Hermione relax against him again. He had barely realised that she had tensed up, but now he knew what it had been about, anyway.
"Right," Ron said after a second or two. "Anyway, a few minutes after Snape finished with Luna, there was a big commotion by the door. Course, I didn't know what was going on until later, because Madame Pomfrey put both Luna and I under again to sleep and begin our recovery, but later I found out it was Dumbledore carrying you in, Harry. Hermione was right beside him, holding your hand."
Harry fumbled with Hermione's hand suddenly, and she clasped his hand with her own tightly, understanding his need for a sudden reassurance. "But..."
"I'll explain this part," Hermione offered before Harry could actually ask the question they all knew was coming. "Though I don't know all of it either."
"There's only one thing I want to know about that," Harry said easily. "How are you alive?"
"You don't care about how you're alive?" Ron asked with a grin - the first Harry had actually seen him wear since his rescue.
"I don't know how," Hermione whispered. "I remember seeing the curses coming towards me, and then a dark, cold nothingness. The next thing I knew was something warm and wet pooling on my stomach, something I later found to be your blood. I still couldn't move, but I felt a warm glow surround me before your tears hit my cheeks," she explained, bringing a hand up to caress the side of Harry's face. It was such a caring, intimate gesture that Harry leaned into it and sighed, causing Hermione's breath to hitch in her throat before she could go on.
"We've both heard this story already," Ron offered softly. "Either of us could tell it if that would be easier, Hermione."
"No," she said quickly. "No, I'm alright." She was looking right into Harry's eyes now, and he felt as though nothing else existed at all at her loving gaze. "I felt you kiss me, but I still couldn't move. It wasn't until your fingers found mine that I felt whatever it was holding me let go."
"So... you..." Harry paused for a minute as he remembered keenly the sharp, deadly pain he had felt at the thought of her death. He sighed and wrapped an arm around her. "I'm still not sure I understand."
"Dumbledore doesn't understand, either," Ron said flippantly. "If that makes you feel any better."
"I saw you get hit with the curses, though!"
"Would you rather I be dead?"
"No!" The anguish that poured from Harry's throat caused both Ron and Hermione to stop teasing him instantly, but he barely even noticed as he pulled Hermione even closer than she had been before. "No... I couldn't... I can't..."
"Shh," Hermione whispered, giving him a simple kiss on the cheek. "I'm here, and alive. Don't worry... I'm not going anywhere for quite some time."
Harry took a shaky breath before nodding and letting her go just a little bit, just so she wouldn't feel like he was trying to crush her or anything. "I know."
"So, you sure you aren't the least bit curious about how you're alive?" Ron asked. "Because we can actually answer that one!"
"I think I can guess from what you said earlier," Harry said with a shrug. "Dumbledore found me and brought me back here in time to save my life."
"Not exactly," Hermione said softly. "Once I woke up from wherever I ended up, I saw what had happened to you. I guess I should have listened to your suggestion about keeping my strength up - pulling that dagger out of you and healing you to the point where you could survive took every last bit of strength I had left."
"So you've been in here recovering as well, then?" It was a sign of Harry's deep trust for Hermione that he didn't question just how she had healed him - he had seen her perform strange healing acts in practice with the DA before, but hadn't experienced it first hand to quite such a degree as that before. The fact that she could heal an injury he was sure would be classified as a mortal wound in muggle hospitals was rather incredible, though.
"Not entirely, Harry." All four students looked up quickly to find the Headmaster standing next to Harry's bed, with Madame Pomfrey and Talisien behind him. "In fact, she even had the strength by the time I brought you in here that she could walk alongside us," Dumbledore explained.
The normal twinkle from Dumbledore's bright blue eyes was missing, and it was not something that Harry felt was a good thing. He swallowed hard and nodded to the three. "Good... er... evening, I suppose, Professor."
"I really must insist that we go over both of the recovering patients as soon as possible, Albus," Madame Pomfrey said softly from behind him. "It is good to see that they can both move still, but we must do a thorough examine to ensure their bodies have recovered from their ordeal."
"Indeed," Dumbledore said gravely. "It is the reason we came in the first place, after all," he added with a smile that seemed entirely too forced. "I wish to speak with you later, in the privacy of my office, Harry, after your release from here."
"I'll be there later, then, sir."
As Madame Pomfrey and Dumbledore helped Ron and Luna back over to the other side of the room, Talisien walked forward so he was standing next to the bed. Before Harry could say anything to him, however, he reached down and picked up something off the night stand.
"This dagger is truly remarkable, Harry," he said in a hushed, almost awed voice. "For me, it can erect a barrier of magnificent proportions, burn away any evil it comes close to, and give me warnings of events to come. For you, it can seal your mind from any external force."
"I didn't know if it had been retrieved from the battle or not," Harry admitted, not willing to meet the elf's eye at the admission. To his surprise, Talisien laughed.
"I lost it a few times myself, Harry," he said with a grin. "But it always seems to have a way to return to its owner. The magics within almost seem to have a will their own sometimes. It does act up on occasion, doesn't it?" Harry remembered all too well the Christmas holidays still, and nodded. "It is my own theory on why your mate is still with us."
Harry instinctively held Hermione a little closer, but he knew she was curious about that last statement, too. "What do you mean, sir?"
"Magics are an incredibly powerful force... and blood magics are even moreso. Of course, that doesn't mean I can explain it any better than that. Let's just say this dagger - your dagger - and your own deepest desire could fuse strengths thanks to your blood." The elf then shrugged as he returned the dagger to the night stand. "Mind you, I could be wrong about that, as well. Magics over life and death are rarely simple to understand... and always impossible to explain completely."
"A gift beyond all gifts," Harry whispered more to himself than to Talisien or Hermione. "Talisien?" he called as the elf turned to either leave or join Dumbledore and Madame Pomfrey. When he turned back Harry went on. "What did Dumbledore mean when he said Hermione wasn't in here for her own recovery?"
Talisien shook his head and turned, vanishing instantly to reappear next to the others in the room. Confused by the lack of answer, Harry looked down to Hermione, who surprisingly had tears in her eyes again. *What's wrong?* he asked with a soft purr.
*They... they asked me to stay here, Harry,* she purred back, clinging to him again. *Not that I wouldn't have anyway, but they thought it was extremely important this time... that if I wasn't here with you when you finally woke up, that...*
Harry silenced her fears with a kiss of his own. *Thank you for being here,* he purred, touching his nose to hers before leaning back against the headboard again. She pulled herself up a bit more so she, too, was against the headboard and just leaning into his shoulder rather than on part of his chest as well.
*Anytime,* she purred back with a soft smile. *Just don't make it too often, okay?*
Harry couldn't help the grin spreading on his own face at that. *I'll try not to,* he purred, closing his eyes slowly. He had his right hand clasped with both of Hermione's hands, but he moved his left hand, flexing it almost experimentally. It really suddenly felt like he had been bedridden for a few weeks, like they had claimed. He felt Hermione's head droop down to rest on his shoulder, and smiled as her bushy brown hair tickled at the side of his face. They didn't really have to say anything to be happy with each other... "Mione?" he called her name in a whisper.
She pulled her head back up and looked to him, catching his ocean green eyes with her chocolate brown ones again. It sent a shiver up and down Harry's spine, and she smiled. *What's wrong?* she purred, not reverting to English like he had done. Either she was still really tired - it was the middle of the night, presumably, given the lack of light coming in the windows - or she didn't feel like putting the effort into making full words.
"Nothing," Harry said softly, leaning down to kiss her again. Before leaving to rescue Ron and Luna, he had felt that kissing her was one of the greatest privileges he had ever been granted. Now, after everything that had happened, that feeling had only increased tenfolds. "We're both here. How could anything be wrong?"
*Then what is it?*
Again, Harry leaned down, but this time, he paused just before touching his lips to hers. He could feel her breath on him, a soft, gentle, warm feeling. "I love you," he breathed softly before capturing her lips with his own. He had meant the kiss to be simple and brief, but she held him there for a few seconds longer than that before letting him slowly pull away again.
*I know,* she purred, sighing as she leaned against him again, a soft smile on her lips and gentle tears threatening to spill out from her closed eyes. Harry reached up his free hand to wipe her tears before they could stain her cheeks, and she pressed into his hand. *But don't worry,* she added after a minute of silence passed between them. *I love you, too.*
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It was another week before Harry was finally released from the hospital wing. During that time, the entire DA had come up to see him a few times, though few words were spoken at all by most of them. This was probably because Harry had told them all up front that the next DA meeting would be immediately after final exams - which came as a shock to all of them, given how there were still six weeks left of classes. Ginny was the only one to ask why, but Harry wouldn't answer, even after repeated attempts, so she finally relented.
The fact that Dumbledore had not returned to the infirmary since the initial visit was a cause of concern for Harry, but since no one else either seemed to notice or think it was important, he didn't say anything about it, either.
Ron and Luna were both released earlier in the week than Harry, though they hardly seemed to leave the wing afterwards anyway. It was almost as if - and Harry couldn't blame them for this - they were scared to go out into Hogwarts again. Scared of almost any interaction with anyone save Harry and Hermione. Although they seemed to be slowly adapting, and Luna had really good cause for that, not being able to see anything around her, it was Ron who seemed to have the harder time of it. The bond between Ron and Luna had only increased since their kidnapping, and now there was barely any time when they weren't seen together - including at nights, when they stole back into the hospital wing rather than go to separate dorms.
Actually, it was due to this fact that Harry was quite surprised upon his release from the hospital wing. Hermione was going to class again - as were Ron and Luna - so when he finally managed to convince Madame Pomfrey that he was well enough to leave, he was hoping to manage to surprise her outside her classroom. That thought was dashed, however, when he found Luna waiting for him - alone - at the base of the stairs leading to the hospital wing.
"Luna?" Harry called, wanting to announce his presence from far enough away so as not to startle her. She turned in his direction even though she couldn't see him - Harry figured it was so she could focus her attention on him, even if she couldn't look to him - but said nothing right away. "Everything alright?"
It was the very question that had set Ron and Hermione on edge after he had woken up, but Luna, once again, wasn't fazed by it at all. "As well as can be expected," she said with a dreamy smile. "It is more difficult than I had imagined, though."
"I'm sorry," Harry said instantly.
"Not the blindness," Luna corrected him, assuming he was still trying to apologise for indirectly robbing her of sight. He had tried to apologise several times since waking up, but each time she had brushed it off, saying it was unnecessary. "Fitting in again. It is difficult."
"Oh," Harry said awkwardly. "Well, I'm still sorry."
"I know," Luna said with a grin as she turned her head as though listening to something that Harry couldn't hear. "Even though it is not your fault, you still feel bad. I do wish you wouldn't."
"Well..." Harry started, before stopping himself. "It's odd to be sorry for being sorry, isn't it?"
"Since we are both odd people, I doubt it matters," Luna replied. "But thank you anyway."
"So fitting in again is hard?"
"Yes," Luna said softly. "I can hear things so much better now, and I can hear people whispering. But it is Ronald that I am most worried about. I'm sure you know that very little can faze me."
Harry's thoughts were instantly ripped back to the end of the previous year, and how calmly Luna had taken all of her things going missing. "This isn't exactly some little thing, though."
"No," Luna agreed with him. "It's not. But I knew we would survive. An impressive lyra was out to rescue us, after all."
"I'm not about to..."
"Thank you," Luna said, cutting him off. The two stood in silence for a minute before Harry looked down to hall and started to walk before remembering that Luna might not notice such a thing.
"Shall we be off?" he suggested. Even if her hearing was better, after the training he had undertaken with Talisien and Kailyn earlier, his steps were practically silent even now. "I'm hoping to meet Hermione outside her classroom."
"You aren't curious about why I am not in class?"
Harry shrugged, even though she couldn't see it. "If it is important, I'm sure you'll tell me. But I'm not about to pry if you don't want me to." When Luna didn't reply, he assumed that that meant she wasn't going to explain after all.
As they rounded the bend by the Great Hall, Harry looked down to the smaller girl next to him. For being blind, she was moving about extremely well. Part of that might have been the fact that she had a hold of one of his arms, but she wasn't even tripping on the ground or steps or anything.
"Being blind is a far sight better than being dead," Luna said softly after a few minutes. The irony of her choice of words wasn't lost on Harry, who couldn't help the smile that graced his lips even as his heart tugged a little in pain at the thought. "Basilisks and medusas no longer hold as much power over me, after all."
"That's true," Harry admitted. Just before they started up the next set of stairs, Luna stopped, causing Harry to turn around.
"Could you find an empty classroom for us to talk in?"
Harry nodded without questioning her at all and brought her to the closest one he could find - Firenze's Divination classroom, which was currently empty. He only held class during late evening these days, which was another good reason in the long list of why divination wasn't that great a subject to take.
"What's wrong?" he asked her the moment he had shut the door behind them.
"Three people have now survived the killing curse," she said softly, her voice more serious than Harry could immediately remember.
"Three?" Harry repeated. "I thought I was the only one, because I'm not sure if you can count Hermione, as she seems to have died partly, but I brought her back to life again. And who would the third be, anyway?"
"Me."
Harry found a rock - that was normally used as a chair for students in the class - and sat down quickly. Luna found a rock of her own with her hands and sat down as well, but Harry was still shaking his head. "What?"
"I survived a killing curse cast by a Death Eater," Luna said. "He had taken me into the room they always brought Ron and I to each time they wanted to torture us. I guess my refusal to tell him anything about you really upset him, because he tried to cast the curse. I distracted him at the right time, I guess, because it didn't work."
"Just like Talisien said..." Harry whispered more to himself than to Luna. "He couldn't focus on his hatred." He then paused and looked up. "But I thought they needed you both alive until the right time, didn't they?"
"Oh yes, I heard he was killed when Voldemort returned," she explained. "Of course, I didn't know that until quite some time later - I passed out from the pain. That curse was why you needed to give me that potion, Harry. Talisien said you'd need a strong will... he forgot to mention a strong body, too."
"I guess that makes sense," Harry admitted with a nod. "But how'd you distract him? And why are you telling me now, like this, and not before in the hospital wing?"
"Ron doesn't know, that's why I didn't say anything earlier," Luna said softly, her voice losing the edge it had had while she described what had happened. "I couldn't tell him... even though I wanted to. He's already worried enough about me not being able to see, and if he knew that..."
"Alright. I won't tell him, don't worry."
"No!" Luna said quickly. "No, I want you to tell him... when you think he's ready. You've known him for six years, and I've only really known him this year, and a bit of last year."
"You still know him better than I do," Harry said slowly. Seeing Luna's determination, however, he backed down and nodded. "I'll tell him when the time is right, don't worry." There was a knock at the door suddenly, and Harry waved a hand towards it to open it. Such casual uses of wandless magics had really gotten simple for him, though he couldn't do anything useful in a duel setting. "You should remember, though, Luna," he said, not looking up just yet to who had entered. "Those who are blind are not always kept from seeing. They just see things differently."
"Harry?"
He looked away from Luna to find Hermione standing next to him, a look of amazement on her face. "Oh, sorry Hermione," he said, standing quickly and making to hug her. "I wanted to meet you outside your class, but then got talking to Luna, and lost track of time..."
"That's okay," she said as she returned the hug. "I'm just glad you've finally been released. We've got lots of studying to do before exams, after all," she added with a wink before looking back to Luna. "Now, what did you just say, Harry?"
"Hmm? Just something Talisien told me quite a while ago. Didn't make much sense then, but..."
"Those who are blind are not always kept from seeing," Hermione whispered, repeating his words. She drew her dagger from the sheath at her side and was instantly aware of all the magical energy surrounding her - she could physically see it. While not entirely sure it would work, given how Madame Pomfrey had determined that Luna's blindness wasn't a fault of her eyes, but of her optic nerves, thereby ruling out magical eyes, it was certainly worth a try. "Here, Luna."
Hermione took one of Luna's outstretched hands and placed the dagger, grip first, into it. The younger Ravenclaw jerked backwards quite suddenly as she held up her free hand to her face. "What is this?"
"What's what?" Harry asked, thoroughly confused by what was going on.
"You're seeing magical energy," Hermione explained to Luna, ignoring Harry for the moment. "Essentially, the different colours represent different strengths... or something like that, anyway. Whenever I held that dagger, I could see them, too, but I could also see everything normally at sort of the same time. I thought that maybe you could learn to see things properly with this... at least sort of, anyway."
Harry looked to the door at the sudden sound of movement, and found Ron just about to come inside. Harry stood from the desk and met his friend, stopping him from interrupting Hermione and Luna. "What's going on with them?" Ron asked.
"Something amazing, apparently," Harry replied. "I'm sure one of them will explain it to us once Hermione's done explaining it to Luna. But look, I wanted to talk to you first. I'm..."
"Harry, you're my best friend, but if you're about to say you're sorry about not rescuing us sooner one more time, even that won't stop me from hitting you."
Harry smiled and shook his head. "Sorry. Habit by now, I guess."
"Look, I told you, it's fine," Ron said. "I'm alive and Luna's alive, too. Like she's said a few times, we couldn't ask for anything more than that after what we went through." He then looked over to the two girls and smiled. "Even if she is blind, I love her more than anything. Speaking of which..."
"Yes," Harry said, cutting him off. "I have, don't worry." A smile spread across Ron's face, and Harry just shook his head. "Though why it's so important to you that I have, I'll never understand."
"Life's uncertain," Ron said simply. "There might not be that chance you're waiting for all the time. Do what you need to do first, before it's too late." He then shrugged towards the doorway, and the two walked out of the forest-like classroom, leaving the two girls inside. "She tell you yet?"
"Tell me what?" Harry asked, knowing he was talking about Luna again. She was right, and he knew that Ron wasn't ready to hear anything about the killing curse just then... but then what did he mean?
"That she can still see when she's a heliopath," Ron replied. "She tested it one night after Hermione had fallen asleep and Pomfrey was out of the room."
Harry made a mental note to thank Hermione at some near stage for teaching their closest friends to become animagi. "Speaking of that, Ron... I know this probably isn't the greatest of times to be asking, but..."
"Wardings."
"Huh?"
"We couldn't become our animal forms to try and escape because of wardings in the cell," Ron explained in more detail. "But the thought did cross our minds. I can't tell you how wonderful it was to hear you and Hermione, though!"
"I can only imagine it was almost as good as us hearing your voices, too."
--------------------------
With about a month and a half left until the end of the school year, it was no surprise that Hermione had Harry studying more than usual. He didn't even mind in the slightest, however, as it kept his mind off other things. He was absolutely dreading the DA meeting set for after exams were over... he'd have rather written a thousand lines for Umbridge again than have to go through with another sombre memorial service.
And just how were Dean and Cho's parents going to take the news? Would he have to be the one to break it to them, or would the Ministry or Dumbledore already have stepped in? Surely they knew by now, so why hadn't he received any Howlers from them yet? Dean's parents, he could understand, being muggles, but Cho's?
Under different circumstances, Harry would have found Ron's complaining comical. He didn't seem to think it was fair that he and Luna were expected to write final exams even after having been kidnapped - and, for his part, Harry agreed with that. However, as Hermione pointed out (her words practically mirrored by McGonagall when Ron asked her, too), that if they didn't write the exams when everyone else was, they wouldn't be able to pass the year.
Speaking of Ron, though, he was slowly starting to adapt a bit better to being in the crowded Great Hall again. While before the kidnapping, he was always one of the loudest students - and a prankster like his older twin brothers at heart - afterwards, he was quite a bit withdrawn. Luna, on the other hand, seemed to be amazed by almost everything around her, a fact that confused more than a few people, given how she couldn't actually see anything... Harry had never asked Hermione about what she had done for Luna, but he knew she'd explain it to him eventually.
On the morning of the first of the exams, Harry found himself alone at the breakfast table. Hermione was writing her arithmancy theory, and Ron and Luna were both in Herbology with Neville. He didn't know where Ginny was - she was avoiding him after his refusal to explain himself.
"May I have a word with you, Mr. Potter?" Harry looked up from his breakfast to find Dumbledore standing behind him. Glancing up to the head table, he thought it was strange he hadn't noticed his absence beforehand.
"Uh, sure," Harry said, noticing the still absent twinkle from his eye right away. He had a strong feeling that this was not going to be a good trip to the Headmaster's office. "I'm not that hungry right now anyway."
The walk through the school was a silent one, and Harry could almost physically feel the tension between the Headmaster and himself. He stole one glance up to the taller wizard and saw a hard edge to his jaw, as though he was actually working on keeping his mouth shut rather than speak in the halls about whatever was on his mind.
Although it probably shouldn't have been that obvious to him, the first thing Harry noticed was Fawkes's absence from the office. Dumbledore took a seat behind his desk, and after a moment Harry took that as a cue for him to take a seat as well.
"Mr. Potter."
"Professor Dumbledore," Harry replied in as neutral a tone as he could manage. He was a bit surprised by not being called Harry - the Headmaster had always called him by his first name, after all. Not only that, but there was no mention of a lemon drop or any other type of candy, either.
"Harry."
"Albus... sir."
"I trust the past few weeks have not been spent in vain?"
"What do you mean, sir?"
"I decided not to call you in here right after your release from the hospital wing against my own better judgment," Dumbledore confessed as he brought his hands up to rest his chin on them. "It was suggested to me that it might give me a chance to think about what I was to do, and perhaps give you a chance to think about what happened, as well."
"To be honest, sir, I'm still not entirely clear on just what did happen in the end."
"Where does your memory fade?"
"It doesn't," Harry said quickly, correcting his meaning the best he could. "It's just... after Hermione was hit with all those curses, nothing but the sight of her just lying there comes to mind. Everything else is a total blank."
Dumbledore nodded and brought his hands down again, showing his lips to be tightly drawn. "I was told that that might have been enough to show you the error of your actions."
"Error?" Harry repeated. "Maybe things could have been carried out in a better fashion, but I still do not feel that I acted in error by going to rescue Ron and Luna like I did."
"Then you would do it again if you had to?"
"I'm not going to leave anyone to rot in some dungeon if I can help it!" Harry said forcefully. "And I'm not about to let Voldemort get any more power than he already has!"
Dumbledore had stood up quite forcefully at the beginning of Harry's words, and the young Gryffindor had felt the air suddenly alive with untold magics, reminding him of just why Dumbledore was easily considered to be the most powerful wizard alive. However, that rush of energy suddenly stopped as the aged wizard put both hands on the desk and looked at Harry again, confused this time. "What?"
"If I hadn't acted when I did," Harry started, purposefully taking all the blame for the entire DA to keep everyone else out of trouble. "The Voldemort would have sacrificed them to that bloody crystal and destroyed Hogwarts and everyone in it!"
Harry suddenly met Dumbledore's gaze perfectly, and he had the distinct impression that the Headmaster was trying to read his thoughts, like he was sure he had done in the past. Harry's hand immediately went to the hilt of his dagger as he closed his eyes. "Where did you learn of that? How?"
That threw Harry's reply right out the window. "What?"
"How did you know what that crystal could be used for? No one in the Ministry of Magic has ever figured it out... I had thought it was some sort of powerful crystal ball for use with ancient divination practices."
"You didn't know about the sacrificial ritual?"
"Where did you hear that? What makes you believe it?"
"I..." Harry paused for a moment. Why hadn't Snape gone to Dumbledore with that information? Wasn't he supposed to tell the Headmaster everything? "I can't answer that, sir."
"And why not?"
"It isn't my place to say." Harry swallowed hard, feeling distinctly uncomfortable with everything that had happened in the office so far. "I'm sorry. I thought you knew, and just didn't want to risk acting anyway."
"If I ever thought that Tom could have used that to gain even more power, I would have acted immediately with everything I could have mustered!" Dumbledore replied, sitting down slowly. "Are you sure the information was accurate?"
"I didn't learn it through my connection to him," Harry said quickly, tapping his forehead - and more specifically his scar. "It hasn't acted up at all since Talisie... er... Professor Talisien gave me his dagger."
"So you acted on a simple thought, without any verification?" The edge was still present in his voice, and Harry winced a little. "You lead a group of fifteen other students on an excursion off grounds with little to no proof as to what Voldemort could do on just a thought?"
"It was right," Harry said firmly. "I destroyed the Crystal of Guidance with my dagger, but before that, I could hear it trying to speak to me... trying to get me to obey it's wishes. I'm sure that the only reason I could is because of the part of me that houses Voldemort's power transfer - sort of like why I'm a parselmouth - but I have no doubt about what it could have been used for."
Dumbledore sighed and leaned forward again, looking suddenly tired. "Two students are dead," he said in a hard voice. "Eight more needed medical attention to remove serious curse effects that were improperly healed, and one other student almost died. What gave you the right to play with their lives like they were chess pieces? How could you have done that on just a thought?"
"Just a thought?" Harry demanded, standing to face the man rather than remain seated. "Is that what you think? I took them all out to face death head on because I didn't like what was served for breakfast?" He turned away and walked over to Fawkes's empty cage. "I tried to talk them all out of it. If I had asked anymore, then they probably would have just left without me."
He took a deep breath and turned around, the hood to his cloak rising of its own accord. Irritably, he pushed it back down again, but not before noticing the glow his eyes seemed to be causing through his heightened emotions. "I suppose I can finally understand what it's like to be you, sir."
He couldn't help it, really. The anger that was flowing through him at Dumbledore's accusation was making him say all the wrong things... he knew if he took a moment to think, then maybe they would both calm down. He turned to leave the office without another word, only to be stopped by a hand on his shoulder.
Harry turned back in surprise, only to be enveloped by an odd, awkward embrace from Dumbledore. "I am sorry, Harry," Dumbledore said in a soft, tired voice as he released him and moved around behind his desk again. Harry didn't make another move towards the door, but he didn't go sit down again right away, either. "I have had a difficult time trying to explain your actions to the Ministry and to the Board of Governors. It was especially difficult because I agreed with them - I believed you acted recklessly and willingly endangered the lives of other students of this school."
"They're trying to get me expelled, are they?"
"The Governors, yes - not that they will succeed, however. But the Ministry is concerned with something else..." Dumbledore admitted. "They just need an explanation... they need to know why Malfoy Manor was reduced to rubble and only one room was spared, and they need to know what happened to Voldemort."
"He doesn't have a wand anymore," Harry said suddenly. "I just remembered that... his wand blew apart. He destroyed mine... and then I destroyed his."
"How?"
Harry shook his head and moved to sit down again. "I don't know," he admitted, reaching for one of the sweets that was suddenly being offered. "I just remember a blinding hatred... a rage more powerful than anything I can recall otherwise. He had just killed Hermione... well, sort of, and..."
"Actually, he did kill her," Dumbledore said softly when Harry trailed off. "Gringotts sent her account information to her parents - a fact only done when the life of a wizard or witch is ended, and done without fail. That was a mess to clean up, let me assure you."
"They know she's okay, though, right?"
"They have seen her since then," Dumbledore said. "While you were still unconscious."
"Do you know what happened, sir?"
Dumbledore sighed and looked away from Harry. "Magic over life and death is rarely simple to..."
"Yeah, I know," Harry said with a sigh, cutting him off from repeating Talisien's earlier words, even if he didn't know it. "The fact that she is alive is enough for me anyway. I was just wondering if you thought it possible to repeat the procedure."
"You are thinking of Mr. Thomas and Miss. Chang?" Harry nodded and Dumbledore took his glasses off his face. "They have left us already," he explained. "And I do not think you could have brought them back anyway. There is a good chance that every step that you took after her death was directly involved with bringing her back, and I doubt it could be repeated even if you could remember it all."
The memory of kissing her then dead-cold lips flashed through Harry's mind, and he had to admit that Dumbledore was completely right. "I'm sorry."
"So am I, Harry," Dumbledore said. "So am I." He then paused as he put his glasses back on his face to look at Harry again. "I have a request to make of you, Harry. One that I feel is necessary for you to agree to."
"An order, then?"
"No," Dumbledore said firmly, holding a hand out to the Gryffindor. "An agreement. One does not order a friend and ally around." Harry took the offered hand a little hesitantly, not sure where this was all going just yet. "In the future, if you have information like you did this time, please pretend that I know absolutely nothing about it and tell me everything. The truth is a powerful tool, Harry, as I think you know well."
Harry couldn't help but think of the irony of that statement. Last year, it had been him asking for the truth, and this year it was Dumbledore. "I can live with that," he said with a small grin. "So... is everything alright, then?"
"I wish above and beyond anything else that you did not have to be involved in this war, Harry," Dumbledore replied. "But, seeing as how it is necessary, I must say that I am pleased to see you actively seeking to be involved, and not being forced into it."
"What can I say?" Harry said with a shrug. "I've been told I have a `saving-people' thing."
"Indeed?" Dumbledore said, raising an eyebrow. "I can not imagine what would prompt someone to think that..."
There was a small silence then, during which time Harry stood up again. "For what it's worth, I am sorry about how things turned out."
The Headmaster nodded and stood up himself. "Oh, one more thing, Harry."
"Yes?"
"Why did you never respond to my query earlier in the year?" At Harry's blank stare, Dumbledore sighed. "I should have known you would not have opened any package from me at that time... another failing of old age, I suppose."
Harry suddenly remembered, however vaguely, a small package landing on his desk over the summer while he was still at the Dursley's. A package he had tossed aside in front of Rozan. "What was that all about, anyway?"
"I was attempting to make up for a mistake from the year before," Dumbledore explained as he opened the door for Harry and then the two started down together. "And so I was asking for your opinion on which of the fifth year students should be approved as prefects, as well as your thoughts on Head Boy and Girl."
"So that's why the decision was made so late this year... I'll admit, I was curious."
They both stopped as the large stone gargoyle spun around to reveal the normally empty hallway. Harry was surprised to find Hermione, Ron, Luna, Neville, and Ginny all waiting for him. Not that it was surprising to necessarily find Hermione there, given how she always seemed to be able to find him no matter what was going on, but the others, too...
"We'll take the same punishment as Harry," Hermione said when the two stopped in front of them. "We've all decided that it would only be fair."
"Only fair?" Dumbledore asked, the twinkle returning to his eyes slowly as he sneaked a peek to Harry before looking back to the others. "Even though Mr. Weasley and Miss. Lovegood were victims and had no part in the rescue?"
"We're not about to abandon him, sir," Luna said softly, looking at him with an odd gaze. Harry only then noticed that she was looking all around her again as though taking in something new... but was that really possible? She was blind, but could see? He'd have to ask Hermione as some point just what she had done for the blind girl by giving Luna the dagger he had given her. "After all, he did not abandon us, either."
"And if it were deemed necessary to expel him, then?"
"With all due respect, Professor Dumbledore." Hermione's voice was quite calm in light of such a threat. Harry could keenly remember a time when such a thing would have made her lose her mind, and couldn't help but smile at how she was taking it now. "You are neither foolish nor completely mad, and Harry is standing beside you without so much as a trace of anger in him," she added catching Harry's eyes for a moment before looking back to him. "All of which points to the fact that he hasn't been expelled, at least."
"Your logic appears to be completely in tact, Miss. Granger. I suppose you already know the outcome of our meeting upstairs, then?" Hermione shook her head and looked a little contrite at his words. "Ah, forgive me. I wasn't sure if you had developed some method of listening in that I had been unable to detect. You will be pleased to know that Harry is only to be punished by himself... even though I have tried to dissuade that, as well."
All five of the other students looked to Harry, and he sighed and shook his head. "Guilt doesn't just go away, no matter what anyone says."
"Unfortunate, but true," Dumbledore said seriously. "However, I will take my leave of you all now... it has been quite some time since I've sat in on one of Professor Flitwick's third year exam, though it is often quite enjoyable..." He turned before anyone could say anything and started off down the hall.
Once he had disappeared down the bend, Ginny whirled on Hermione. "Are you trying to get in trouble or something?"
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked as Harry took a step towards her and put an arm around her.
"You practically called him mad back there!"
"I said not completely, didn't I?"
"He's admitted to being partially mad before," Harry pointed out. "So don't worry about it. Besides, I think we all are a bit mad, in our own ways. Wouldn't you agree, Luna?"
"Oh no," she said, looking to him again. Her eyes were no longer completely lifeless... but they weren't their usual grey, either. Instead, they seemed to be quite a bright shade of green - so bright the colour was bordering on white instead, something that he'd also have to ask about later. "None of us are mad at all. It's just the rest of the world who is."
----------------------------
"Might I have a brief word with you, Harry?"
Harry and Hermione both turned in surprise to find their Defense Against the Dark Arts professor leaning against the doorway of their potions classroom. They had just finished writing the theory portion of the exam - or more aptly, Harry had just finished, but Hermione had been waiting outside the class for him - and were about to return to the Gryffindor Common Room to start going over things for that very class.
"Yeah, sure," Harry said with a shrug. "What do you need?"
"I apologise Miss. Granger... but I must ask to speak with him alone this one time," Talisien said with a nod to her. "He can catch up with you in a bit, I'm sure."
Hermione hesitated just a moment before Harry nodded that it would be fine, and then she gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before heading off down the hall. Talisien turned and started walking in the opposite direction, and Harry hurried not to be left behind.
Nothing was said between the two of them for a few minutes, and then Harry had the distinct impression that the elf was waiting for him to speak, first. "What's going on, Talisien?"
"Several things," Talisien said after another moment. "First, I was wondering how you were holding up with what happened."
Harry felt his heart drop, and he looked down to the ground as they kept moving. "As best I can, I guess."
"Taking of a life is not an easy thing, even if it is on a battlefield."
"A life?" Harry repeated in surprise, stopping and looking to the elf. "What do you mean?"
Talisien sighed and motioned for him to keep moving. "They did warn me that you had blanked out a few things just before passing out, but I wasn't sure what that entailed. Tell me, Harry... is there anyone missing at school who shouldn't be?"
"Besides Dean and Cho, you mean?"
"You know where they are already."
"Not really," Harry countered. "I just know that they are dead."
"Fair enough," Talisien replied with a nod. "Anyone else, though?"
Harry thought about it for a minute, and stopped at the base of a set of stairs, even as the elf kept moving. "Malfoy... he's not here. What happened to him?"
"He wrote his exams early," Talisien explained. "He had a good reason, and needed to leave as soon as possible, so his Professors arranged it."
"So why were you asking me about his absence, then?"
"Why do you think he had to leave?"
"So he could kiss up to his dear daddy's..." Harry suddenly froze as the image of the elder Malfoy being torn apart piece by piece flashed through his mind, and he turned to the side of the hall and emptied his stomach. "By Merlin's grace..."
He felt Talisien's hand on his shoulder, and that was what let loose the torrents of emotions... the dam broke and Harry collapsed on the ground. "I am sorry to have forced you to remember, Harry," Talisien said softly. "But it is best not to ignore your past."
"I killed him!" Harry managed in a hoarse whisper. "There's nothing left of him anymore! He's just..."
"It is not murder, Harry."
He struggled for a moment before nodding and looking up to the elf. He was surprised to see Talisien had taken his hood down, but that wasn't exactly on the forefront of his mind anyway. "It was in a blinding rage, Talisien."
"I thought as much," Talisien replied. "Which is not an easy thing to come to terms with."
"It thought it was going to be the last thing I ever did... how could I do that? That's not me - it can't be! I'm not that violent, that brutal! I'm not dark!"
"Of course you aren't, Harry." There was something in Talisien's tone that caught him off guard, and he forced his own thoughts back so he could focus on it. "You acted as one who loves will always act. It is a great strength, but can be a great weakness as well. Love and hate... life and death... two of the greatest forces in the universe, but neither can exist without the other. Just like light and shadows. The difference between love and hate is how they can control your life - one who loves is capable of hatred, but one bent on pure hatred is incapable of even understanding love."
It took a bit of work, but Harry somehow managed to get turned around so he could sit on the ground far enough away from his mess to avoid sitting in it. Slowly, he leaned back until his head was against the rock, but he just closed his eyes and didn't say anything - he was just focussing on breathing properly.
"You are not a dark wizard," Talisien said softly as he stood up. Harry had the distinct impression that the elf was almost standing guard over him as he recovered, but he didn't say anything about it. "A dark wizard like Voldemort has no remorse... no fears of killing others. Not only that, but he will never hesitate killing if he warrants it would be worthwhile."
Kill the spare!
Harry shuddered as that memory coursed through him, and he forced his eyes open so he wouldn't have to see the memory of Cedric lying spread eagle on the ground in front of him. "How did you handle it?"
Talisien shook his head and held out a hand to Harry. While he suspected that meant the answer wasn't easy or couldn't be explained, he knew he wouldn't find out either way if he didn't accept the offer to help him stand again. When they started walking through the empty halls again, it was at a much slower pace, and only after Harry had keeping up his vomit with a quick vanishing spell. "It was a terrible slaughter," Talisien said, his voice suddenly toneless as they walked. "Neither fast, nor painless... but easy to understand. There were no magics involved... just the very sharp edge of my sword. Afterwards, I could barely remember it either - but it came back a few days later just what I had done. It was only with Fey's assistance that I got through it... she continuously reminding me just why I had acted that way. Rape and murder of what you would call my god daughter..."
"So I should talk to Hermione?"
"You should always talk to your friends, Harry. Remember, everything that happens does not happen to just you alone."
"I know that," Harry said irritably, shaking his head. Talisien didn't reply to that at all, but did hold the door open to the top of the tower they had just climbed. Looking around on the parapet, Harry found that they had somehow managed to get above the large bells of the school - a place he had never really found before (though to be honest, he hadn't looked that hard, either.
The school grounds were warmer now as June was just starting, and the grass was rich with green, while the forest had never looked better. The wind was soft and gentle, and Harry couldn't help but feel it wash some of his worries away.
"I would like you to take your NEWT level examination this year."
Harry spun around to face his professor quickly, and found him leaning against the wooden doorway, looking at him carefully. "Come again?"
"I do not believe that is necessary," Talisien said with a soft smile. "As you understood what I said perfectly well."
"Why, though? Won't that just make a mess of next year?"
"It may... telling the future is not a field I embark on lightly, so I won't consider it at this time either." Talisien walked forward and put his hands on the stone barrier that was acting as a half wall to keep them both from walking off the edge. "I'm leaving at the end of this year, as I'm sure you remember."
"Yeah," Harry admitted. "I remembered. Are you worried about the teacher next year, and just want to spare me the trouble of facing whoever's hired?"
"That is not really a concern of mine," Talisien said. "But I would like to offer something to you... and I would be unable to do so unless you had completed your NEWT level theory and practical exams." At Harry's blank stare, the elf smiled and looked away and out to the Forbidden Forest. "I would like to train you personally for a time during the summer at your home."
"At Grimmauld Place? Just me?"
"Indeed."
"Why?"
Talisien sighed and shook his head. "I can't explain why right now... I'm sorry. But it would be in your best interest to agree."
"Of course I will!" Harry said. "I'm not mad! I know I need more training, serious training! There's no way I can defeat Voldemort without it."
"There is a catch."
That brought Harry crashing back to earth quickly enough, and he looked back to the elf quickly. "What is it?"
"You can tell no one until after my training has already begun."
"No one?" Harry couldn't imagine trying to keep a secret like that from Hermione. "I don't know if that's even possible. There are other sixth years going through this exam, remember? Speaking of that, how am I supposed to take a NEWT level exam with just sixth year stuff?"
"I promised that everyone taking OWLs or NEWTs would perform very well indeed so long as they paid attention in class, did I not?" Talisien asked, an odd twinkle in his dark brown eyes. "So you see, there is method even to my own madness. Besides, for the advanced group, the testing will all be done individually this year... "
Harry sighed and leaned against the stone himself. "How long would I have to keep this a secret?"
"About a week. After that, I can't see any harm in your friends knowing, but I wouldn't let it go beyond that."
"What about next year? What do I do instead of Defense Against the Dark Arts?"
"I'm sure something can be arranged, Harry." He paused for a minute and then leapt up onto the stone. Before Harry could say anything, the elf had leapt down and was standing on the platform just beneath the bell itself. "What do you think?"
Although he had an odd sinking feeling in his stomach at the mere thought of agreeing to keep a secret from his friends, even if it was only for a short time, he couldn't help but realise how important this would be to him - it was quite literally a matter of life or death, after all.
"You have yourself a deal, Professor."
-------------------------
Author's Note: Well, only one chapter left in this fic now! Seems fairly incredible to me... it's been a long run, but quite enjoyable. I'll save that for the next chapter, though. I'm sorry this took longer than expected to go up, but I wanted to be happy with it first, and had to rework a couple of scenes for that to be possible.
One thing of note, though - I'm almost completely sure I've got the timeframe a little off in the ending here. I can't remember - or even find reference to - when they write their exams. I'm assuming late May and early June, but I'm not entirely sure. If I'm wrong, sorry - I'll fix it in an update later. Besides, it's just changing the words six weeks to however long it should have been anyway...
And finally, there'll be no more reviews asking me when Harry's finally going to say those three little words! Yeah!
Thanks everyone! I hope you enjoyed the chapter! I always enjoy hearing from everyone, too!
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Until the sun sets upon a broken world...
The Shadows
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