Chapter Eight:
Weeks had gone by since I was put in the hospital because of my scar hurting. That scared me because it has never pained me as much as it did that night. It was like Voldemort was right on top of me breathing down my neck, or like he had already uttered "Avada Kedavra".
I knew the end to the second war was coming swiftly. The order was right, he or I will be dead by the end of my seventh year, and I could feel it. My scar hadn't hurt since that night and I was grateful because then I was able to spend all my free time with Hermione, studying, or snogging, whichever seemed to happen first.
Suddenly it was the day before the winter holidays and Hermione had initially planned on going and spending the break with her Muggle parents in France, but had rejected the idea, claiming she needed to study for her N.E.W.Ts.
Things were going by smoothly, well as smoothly as they can go with students packing and readying themselves to go home for the holidays. Hermione, Ron and I were making our way from the common room to the Great Hall for the feast, when we heard a loud crash coming from the Astronomy Tower. Students started screaming and teachers began running in that direction.
It hit me then that I knew what was going on up there. He had come for me. I suddenly had the great urge to usher Hermione and Ron to safety. I grabbed both of them by the arms and attempted to lead them to the Great Hall. They both pulled away from me.
"What do you think you're doing Harry?" Hermione looked at me crossly. Ron nodded his head in agreement.
"This has nothing to do with you two, he wants me." I reached out to grab them once again.
"I can't believe you actually thought you were going to face Voldemort without us by your side!" Hermione exclaimed a little hurt at the fact.
"Harry I'm coming and no amount of hexing is going to stop me. You're my best mate and if you're going down I'm going down with you." Ron looked sheepish. "That is unless Voldemort is going down, and I just want to be there to witness it!"
I smiled at my two best friends knowing there was nothing I could do to stop them. I sighed resignedly and shot past them and on my way to the Astronomy Tower. I knew they followed me so I didn't look back not until I reached the door to the tower. I could hear curses being shouted and objects being throw, I wondered who was in there.
I felt my best friends line up behind me, readying themselves for what lay within. I turned to look at them.
" Thank you." I leaned and pulled Ron into a hug, holding him very close to me. I then pulled away and smiled at him. Then I looked over to Hermione and wrapped my arms around her tightly.
" I love you 'Mione, and I always will. Thank you for being here." I could feel her stiffen, but I didn't let go. If it was one thing we were all going to need for the battle within, it was love.
Finally after what seemed like hours we broke apart and I could see tears shining in her eyes. One decided to make the trip down her face and I leaned and kissed it before if got below her cheek. That was our last kiss.
I turned to both of them then and started barking orders.
"I go in first, Hermione I want you right behind me and Ron you behind her. This isn't going to be easy, there are going to be Death Eaters in there who are aiming to kill. As soon as you get in the room start shouting curses at everyone you see…" I then thought about what I said. "…Except for us good guys." They smiled weakly. "And remember, both of you. I love you."
It was then that I opened the door and ran in blindly. I made my way unscathed over to the far wall, no one seemed to have realized we had entered, which was good. Element of surprise was ours. I glanced around the room and saw McGonagall dueling with Crabbe and Goyle Sr. and Snape with Bellatrix and Hermione with Lucius. Wait a minute Hermione was dueling with Lucius. Suddenly terrified out of my mind I made my way over to them.
"Expelliarmus" I screamed and pointed my wand at Malfoy. His wand made a dive to fly out of his hand but he caught it. I'm too weak I realized. I didn't stop nonetheless.
I heard Hermione shout a curse. "Incarcerous" I then saw ropes come out of her wand and attempt to bind Lucius. They held him for a minute before he did a spell and burned them away. He started laughing hysterically.
"Is this all The-Boy-Who-Lived has?" He taunted. I began to see red. I had never felt anger like this before, sure I had gotten mad when classmates, namely some Slytherins, made fun of Hermione but nothing like this. He was making me feel as if I couldn't defeat Voldemort and I was getting mighty ticked off.
I raised my wand and pointed it at him. He continued laughing harder if that was at all possible right now. I noticed that the dueling around me had somewhat stopped and everyone was looking at me. I didn't care what happened to me right now, I wanted this man to suffer. To feel the pain I had dealt with from my parent's death to living with the Dursleys, to Sirius' death. Suddenly I wanted this man to die.
"Crucio" I shouted at the top of my lungs. The curse hit Lucius directly in the chest and he instantly began writhing around like a worm. I felt a bead of sweat run down my face and absent-mindedly wiped it away.
Just like time had stopped, it had begun again. Curses once again were being thrown at each other. I looked around and saw Bellatrix throw a curse behind her hitting Ron in the back. He toppled over. Fear engulfed me as I ran to his side. I flipped his body over and realized he was still breathing. I let out a sigh of relief and stood up, leaving Hermione who had followed me over to him, to care for him while I went looking for my destiny.
He wasn't in the room, which of course he wouldn't be, but I knew he was here in Hogwarts, but where?
Come on Harry think like a Slytherin. Where would he be?
Just like that I knew where he was. I left the tower, hoping that Ron and Hermione would be alright. I made my way down the stairs and towards the Great Hall. I had decided if I were the evil Lord Voldemort then I would chose to hold the last or possibly the first of many battles of my life somewhere where there were plenty of innocents. As I entered the Great Hall it was obvious that I had been correct in my assumptions.
There he was sitting in Professor Dumbledore's spot at the teachers dining table. He was human once again. He had shed his hood to reveal his perfectly hairless head, his red beady eyes bore into my skull and instantly I felt my scar tingle. Once I got my bearings straight I noticed who was seated next to him and nearly screamed.
Neville Longbottom, close friend of mine was sitting next to him, scared out of his mind, blood trickled from a wound on his head but he was still alive. I tried not to think that if I didn't make my move soon, we all would be.
I moved towards the front of the room to where Voldemort sat waiting for me. A cheesy grin plastered to his face that arose upon my approach. I felt very lonely walking towards him alone, and I tried to think of my best friends who were the best people I had ever known, I tried to think of the last few minutes before we barged into the Astronomy Tower. I remembered the tight hug from Ron, he was my best mate, someone who would stick by my side no matter what. Then I remembered kissing Hermiones face as a tear slid down it. Thinking of her made my heart pound in my ears, I cared so much for her.
Thinking of my loved ones helped me to continue moving one foot in front of the other, until finally I reached the table in which my destiny sat.
I looked him directly in the eye and said.
" Your fate is upon you, take heed."