Author's Note: This is my personal favorite chapter. It is the beginning of the end, so the rest of the way, it's going to be a bumpy and turbulent ride for Harry, Ron, and Hermione. My inspiration for the first section of this chapter comes from the very famous H/Hr picture "Upon the Hippogriff." I do not know the artist. I wish I did. If you would like a link, email me. Please review.
Chapter 20: The Courtyard of Kings
April 11th
Harry stood nervously in front of Hagrid's hut, waiting expectantly. The day was drawing near noon and the sun shone brightly over Hogwarts, traveling amongst interspersed, puffy clouds. It was a perfect day, really. The wind created a light breeze that made everything seem just the right temperature and the air itself was crisp and feel-good. Harry still felt jumpy, however. He was wearing a forest green shirt and jeans, casual clothing he didn't always get to put on, but always felt comfortable in. He had his hands in his pockets and he looked at his shoes as he rocked back and forth in uneasy trepidation.
Looking up, he finally saw her.
Hermione was running up the grounds towards him. She also was wearing jeans along with a breezy pink blouse. Her hair blew in the wind and the smile on her face was exuberant and free. Reaching him, she jumped into his arms and they embraced.
"I can't believe I'm doing this!" she exclaimed, laughing.
"Hermione, it's one class," Harry said, kissing her lightly. "You've missed classes before on account of me."
"When I was unconscious or I looked like a cat!"
"Touché. But tonight we meet with everyone that is on our side to decide how we confront Voldemort and I really wanted us to have this day."
"So what did you have planned?" Hermione wrapped her arm around Harry's as he led her around Hagrid's hut.
"Well, for our first real date, I thought we might experience what we did the first time we got together."
"You want to snog?" Hermione asked skeptically, her eyebrow rising in disbelief. "And you want to do it behind Hagrid's hut?"
"No..." Harry replied, chuckling, his eyes looking brightly into hers. "I want to soar among the clouds." He pointed Hermione towards a large Hippogriff that was standing beyond the hut - it was Buckbeak.
"Oh, Harry..." Hermione moaned nervously, fidgeting with her hands. "You know how I feel about flying."
"Come on, Hermione. You have nothing to fear. I will be right there with you." Harry offered his hand and she hesitantly accepted it. He led her over to Buckbeak and they both bowed. Buckbeak responded in kind and approached them, nuzzling Harry's arm with his beak. Harry went to the hippogriff's side and then helped Hermione get on, before getting on behind her.
"Now," Harry cooed gently behind her. "Just don't show unease and Buckbeak will do all of the work for you."
"That's easy for you to say. You're a natural at this."
"Hermione, you can do anything you put your mind to. I know you can. You just have to believe you can do it. Buckbeak isn't here to hurt you."
Hermione nodded. She breathed deeply as Harry put his hands on her shoulders.
"Okay Buckbeak," Hermione said confidently. "Let's go!"
Buckbeak responded instantly, taking off at breakneck speed. Hermione clutched to Buckbeak's feathers in anxiety while Harry held her close as Buckbeak took off into the air, flying higher and higher. Hermione had her eyes closed and every muscle in her body was clenched. Harry took in the clean, fresh air - slowly moving his arms to Hermione's, he rubbed them gently, letting her know everything was fine.
"Hermione..." Harry whispered. She shook her head, clinging more tightly to Buckbeak's feathers. "Hermione..." he said lightly into her ear once more. "You know I would never let anything happen to you." She eased up only slightly, but still kept her eyes closed as Buckbeak broke the cloud line and only the blue expanse of sky spread before them. Harry let go of Hermione's arms and hugged her gently, placing his head against the back of hers and breathing her in, letting her know he was there, keeping her safe. Her hair whipped softly against his face and her lovely smell brought him to a place that no amount of flying could provide.
In Harry's mind, Hermione needed to know one thing: that he was going to protect her. If she could learn to trust his words in the most uncomfortable of situations, then there would be nothing that could break their bond, and they would become unstoppable. Hermione's heart was beating as fast as a hummingbird's, but her hands relaxed a little and she placed them on Harry's arms. He looked up at her and saw she had opened her eyes. The wind in her face made her eyes water, but she no longer showed the fear she once did. She anxiously looked about and turned slightly to see Harry smiling at her, his eyes also moist from the wind. She smiled back and looked ahead as Buckbeak gently glided higher and higher. She let go of her hold on Harry's arms and stretched them out, apprehensively at first, but finally, she spread them out completely, closing her eyes once more, but this time, in release.
Buckbeak finally stopped his ascent and Harry and Hermione looked over the world that spread before them. The blue water dominated the countryside, giving focus and detail to an otherwise bleak co-existence of ocean and land. The brilliant colors the sun revealed were so beautiful - eyes clouded by earthly concerns had no place. There was only sky and sea and sun... and them - Buckbeak soared above all worries. Harry sat in ecstasy, knowing the only escape from what lied in wait below, and he was desperate to share it with Hermione, if only for a day before the plunge into the final confrontation with their enemy.
Buckbeak began flying back down with great speed and Harry and Hermione both laughed in glee as the earth came rushing up promptly to meet them. Buckbeak leveled out a few hundred feet from the ground and took his time to finally land once again behind Hagrid's hut.
"I would never have known how exhilarating that could be!" Hermione said, wiping the water from her eyes. "It's not something I want to do every day..." She turned a little to look at him. "But when I'm with you, it's different. You wanted me to know that, didn't you?"
Harry nodded. "Hermione, do you remember our first year, when we went down the tunnel that hid the Sorcerer's Stone and we came to the potions test?"
Hermione nodded.
"Well, you told me something that I have never forgotten. You said that there are some things that are more important than being clever or being great or talented. That what truly defines a great wizard is friendship and bravery-"
"And love," Hermione finished for him.
"No, you didn't actually say that."
"I know... but I should have. As wonderful and important as friendship and bravery are, what is more important than love?"
"I agree. I have lived my entire life here at Hogwarts based on the two principles you unconsciously told me to live by: friendship and bravery... but now I live according to one more creed... the one you were hesitant to tell me the first time."
Hermione looked at Harry, eyes moist with actual tears this time. He smiled, confident of the words he was telling her.
"Hermione, I love you. No matter what happens tonight and no matter what happens in our future, that will never change. You have transformed my life, saving me as a boy on the train to Hogwarts and helping me fight this battle day by day, step by step. Without you, I would have neither friendship nor bravery to aspire to... and I definitely would not have this love."
She leaned back into him and Harry kissed her, lifting her chin to his mouth gently, and holding her more closely than he ever had before. They sat on Buckbeak who stood against the beautiful landscape, knowing only what they had in the moment and all matters of thought or worry left in the passionate kiss they shared. With Hermione by Harry's side, he decided with a will resolute that he would not lose to Lord Voldemort... no matter what.
The meeting concerning the struggle against Voldemort, the time and place of which was sent to leaders all over the world as quickly and discreetly as possible, was held at the Ministry of Magic. The largest of its auditoriums was the place and everyone who arrived was nervous and grim-faced. The world was leaning on one decision and everyone in attendance was leaning on one person: Harry Potter.
The enormous circular assembly hall was filled to capacity and among those who came was the whole of the Order of the Phoenix, who sat close to the center. Harry, Ron, and Hermione stood nearby, waiting solemnly for the meeting to start. They had their robes and they hooded themselves so as not to distract anyone. Finally Minister Scrimgeour limped up to the center.
"Friends and acquaintances, ladies and gentlemen," he began. His voice was magically amplified and Harry assumed it must have been a property of the chamber. "We meet here tonight to face what we have all avoided - the wizards and witches of this earth must stand up against He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named." Murmurings and whispers went through the room like wildfire.
"And how do you expect us to do that?" A large wizard in green robes said from high up in the stands. "For decades, he has been a ghost among men! He was vanquished some sixteen years ago, but now he is back from the dead! How can we kill a man that is unkillable?"
"We cannot stand by and do nothing any longer!" Mad-Eye growled, standing up. "We have allowed ourselves to become a defeated people, but as long as we stand up to You-Know-Who, then we have a chance, no matter how powerful he may be."
"And what would you suggest we do, Alastor?" Harry recognized the skinny man with the top hat from the Ministry Gala as he stood and addressed Moody. "Those brave enough to stand against him have looked and looked and they have all either come up empty or died in pursuit of such a quest. No one has ever found him!"
"But we have found him!" Scrimgeour replied confidently. "Thanks to the work of Harry Potter, we have found the location of You-Know-Who's lair, a home he built in the Valley of Fire." Again, the hall was abuzz as some scoffed and others clapped.
"The Valley of Fire?" a small man representing the East asked skeptically. "There are many people here who don't even know what it is, much less who believe it is much more than a fairy tale."
"And would you not believe it if Harry Potter told this to you in person, my dear Mr. Chang?" Scrimgeour replied politely. Chang sat down, unable to answer. "What I'm telling you is true and we have the key to getting there, which leaves us with a decision. We can either take the opportunity to attack him, or we can continue to live in hiding from one wizard."
"You talk as if you would go to fight him yourself Scrimgeour!" an older man in blue robes and a red pointed hat stood up and said angrily. "Who would go and fight this demon of a wizard? For years, countless many have died by the Dark Lord's hands, and yet you would ask us to go and fight him on his own territory in a place we have no knowledge of."
"It is not I who asks the world to help in this quest, but another - one who has already decided to go and fight him, even to his own death. Once again, I tell you that this is on the very shoulders of Harry Potter and he is the reason we are here tonight."
"Why does Harry Potter not speak, then? Why won't he tell us this on his own? He disappears for half a year and four months after his return, we are expected to believe that a boy of his age can defeat the most powerful dark wizard in a thousand years? I want to hear it from him!"
Scrimgeour glanced to the side and Harry sighed. He took off his hood and as people spotted him, the room grew silent. Harry looked around as faces all stared at him. His heart was beating fast, but he maintained his composure.
"There are some here," Harry began quietly, "that would wish this meeting never had to take place. It is so easy for some here to say that it's not as bad as it seems, but I tell you it is... it is. My parents, the ones you once loved, were murdered in petty jealousy and hate - destroyed by one who detested anyone who decided they would live their lives without fear. My godfather was killed by him; my friends have been killed by him one by one by one. I left everything I knew... or what was left of it, in order to pursue the revenge I thought I deserved, but the reality is this, whether anyone believes it or not: this is not my revenge, but the world's; I am asking everyone here tonight to take a long look inside themselves - to make the decision that they want their children to grow up in a world untainted by the hatred and visceral corruption of one blinded by greed and self-glorification."
"You still ask a hard thing!" a witch shouted from behind him. "None of us are a match for You-Know-Who!"
"I am tired of hearing the fear everyone has of his name. I have fought with the one we all know as Voldemort on every level imaginable! And I am still here! Fear of a name only increases fear of the thing itself. You have created this fear that he feeds off - something Albus Dumbledore never bought. Voldemort could not bring Dumbledore down in the end... only a betrayal could have ever done that."
"Can you promise us, Harry Potter?" a voice said near the middle of the stands. Harry looked up and saw a timid wizard slowly stand up and face him. It was the man whose daughter went up to Harry in the Ministry entryway and whose wife was attacked in Hogsmeade. "Can you promise us that we have a chance to win... that we can provide a future for our children, even if it costs us our own lives?"
"I promise you that I will defy Voldemort with every breath in me," Harry said determinedly, clenching his fist. "And I will not stop until he is banished forever from this world!"
"Then I stand with you... I will fight with you... against L-Lord V-Volde-mort."
"And I," Ludo Bagman stood up and announced.
"And I!" Madame Maxine cried from near the bottom, getting up from her large chair.
"And us!" the whole of the Order, led by McGonagall stood as Hermione and Ron took off their hoods. Others soon joined in the stance and in moments, most of the entire hall was on their feet clapping and cheering with a feeling of hope that spread to every person, eliminating all feeling of self-concern or safety.
"I thank you all," Harry said quietly as the room grew silent. "However, Voldemort's power is as great as you all have assumed and it will take a massive effort to defeat him. It has come to my attention only tonight from our dear Mafalda Hopkirk that the ancient magic known as Amor Immensus has been used for a second time by an unknown source and I believe it to be Voldemort who is trying to master its unlimited power. I will lead you, but I cannot do it alone; and there is one catch that will make this extremely difficult for many of you."
The silence created as everyone hung onto Harry's words was almost unbearable. He finally spoke the words he had to say.
"We must attack... tomorrow."
The response was almost one of panic. Some shook their heads in disbelief, not knowing what to think... others stood up angrily in protest. Even Scrimgeour looked at Harry in slight anxiety.
"How can you ask this of any of us?" Cornelius Fudge stood and asked with angry concern.
"I ask it of you, because it is our only chance. I can guarantee you that Voldemort will know of this meeting within an hour of its disbanding. You do not honestly think that there are not Death Eaters and spies among us even now, do you?"
Fudge realized Harry was right and so did many others.
"As of right now, we have perhaps twenty-four hours before Voldemort makes the decision to either fortify his defenses or to leave his current dwelling of the Lomboc Spire in the Valley of Fire. He will be prepared once he hears word, but we would still have an advantage, because I can guarantee he would never have suspected we could have found his hideout."
Once realization of Harry's plan came to light, the hall became silent once more. A few in the crowd began to weep and hug others close to them while some stared silently as what was about to occur hit them with its full force.
"This is a hard thing to ask," Harry whispered quietly. "But it must be done - fate will be decided. I am going to be in the Courtyard of Kings tomorrow at three o'clock. Those who will come with me to the Valley of Fire, be there. Those who cannot fight, it is understood that no one is a coward as long as they want what is best for all of us. No matter who joins us, a new chapter in history will be written tomorrow, the twelfth of April."
Harry, Ron, and Hermione walked up the stone steps of the auditorium as solemn eyes and heavy hearts followed them until they were out the doors and gone.
* * *
April 12th
Hot water poured over Harry's head in a steady fall of fresh perspective and solitude. The steam wafted into his eyes and over his skin, bathing him in the heated air of new hope that covered over the grim reality of an end lying in wait, even if only for a sparse moment in time.
Harry's shower wasn't one of uneasy feeling or harsh regret. He was cleansing himself... a new self. Whatever had happened before that shower was unimportant - he had only this one day in wait, hidden like a serpent waiting to strike.
He turned off the faucet and the stream of water slowed to a steady drip, falling in fixed intervals to the jeweled floor like the beating of his heart. It wasn't fast or slow... but steady. The drip, drip, drip of the spout was like that of Harry's intentions - it was doing as it should, and so was he.
Harry was in the Head Boy's bathroom. It was a stunning room really. The walls were more like gentle waterfalls that glistened like jewels and mirrors hung from the vast ceiling, reflecting all of the shimmering colors and sounds. Harry sunk into a cold bath and sat, eyes closed, ears ever-attentive to the sounds around him and even more so to the thoughts in his mind.
The vision tore into him like a visceral beast, gnawing at every sound part of him and pressing into his sanity.
He was on the ground.
Voldemort had beaten him.
The orb was shattered.
His friends were dead.
Harry shook his head, wanting no part of the imagination - he never saw Ron and Hermione die... only Worthwhile, and Harry had helped his serpent friend ready himself for the new struggle.
"I know what you are thinking," a quiet voice hissed through the steam. Worthwhile had been quietly enjoying the warm bathroom while observing Harry as he prepared himself.
"Do you? We've been through a lot Worthwhile, but can you really know what I'm thinking?"
"Let me ask you a question, Master Harry. If what you saw in the vision came exactly as you saw it... if I died, if Voldemort defeated you in a duel... if every single detail of what you saw came true, would you feel you had failed?"
"No," Harry answered quickly.
"Exactly. And why is that?"
Harry nodded and smiled, knowing what Worthwhile was getting at.
"I would not feel I had failed, because Ron and Hermione were not with me and therefore they did not die."
"It is for that reason, Master Harry, that you will not lose tonight. You care nothing of yourself."
"But I will still have lost, and not just the duel, but my life and I love my life, Worthwhile! I love Hermione, I love Ron, and I love his family. I used to think dying would not be such a great tragedy for me, but in reality, it is now. Even so, I would gladly give my life for any of them or for you or for this strange, strange world we live in."
"We all know that, which is why your friends, myself included, most likely fear for this night more than you do."
"My `saving-people-thing,'" Harry smirked. His smile died once more, however. He looked out through the lone window where clouds were beginning to suffocate the daylight. He got out of the bath, dried off and robed himself. Picking up Worthwhile, he left the Head Boy's bathroom that was high atop one of Hogwarts' eastern towers. Taking his time to make his way back to the Gryffindor section, Harry enjoyed the brisk atmosphere, trying to soak everything about the day in. There were no students wandering the halls, to Harry's surprise.
Walking up the stairs to his room, he found Ron ready to go. He looked at Harry in confidence, which was appreciated.
"It's almost time," Ron said evenly. Harry nodded and began pulling out his traveling and battle gear. He donned his traveling clothes and robes - the shredded and dark look they had gained over the time he had spent away intimidated even him. He put on magically defensive braces for his arms that he got from Fred and George and his dragonhide boots from Hermione. Taking his staff into his hand, he turned to Ron.
"To the end," Ron said, holding out his hand.
"Whatever must come," Harry replied, pulling him into a hug.
The Courtyard of Kings was an enormous square located near the outskirts of London. It was revered for centuries as a great meeting place among wizard-kind - rallies, hero memorials, or festivals had often been celebrated there. Muggles were repelled by various spells, which many surmised was a hard thing to do, even with magic, being so close to London.
The courtyard was a marble white circular plaza encircled by high-reaching stone pillars that stretched towards the sky. Near one of the ends of the courtyard was a stone dais overshadowed by three much larger stone columns where statues of King Arthur, Merlin, and Lancelot were posed heroically. Harry flew on his broom with Worthwhile wrapped around his shoulders; Hermione and Ron were close behind on brooms of their own. Harry dreaded showing up to the enormous square and meeting only a few who could possibly answer his call, but that was not to be what he found as he was met by the most wonderful and shocking sight he had ever seen.
There were at least a thousand wizards and witches gathered near the front stone platform where they landed and it brought new courage to their hearts to see. Harry could even see many of-age students from Hogwarts, including Neville, Dean, and Seamus. The entirety of the Order of the Phoenix was near the front, waiting expectantly for Harry's lead. Hermione went up to Lupin, who was nearest her and handed him a large stack of parchment, which he then began to dispense to the people surrounding him. She had copied the spell needed to get to the Valley of Fire, as well as directions on when to utter it. She rejoined Harry and Ron, who were joined on the dais by Mad-Eye Moody, Minister Scrimgeour, and two large fierce-looking men Harry did not recognize. One had very dark skin, but his eyes were extremely light-colored; the other had a reddish sort of color to him, with freckles covering his body and a rather large crimson beard that dropped to his chest.
"Harry, we are here to help you lead this lot," Mad-Eye said, looking like business. "These two gentlemen here," he waved his hand at the two large wizards with him, "are some of the finest Aurors on the planet and two of my most accomplished students. They have a lot of experience in leading wizards into battle. This is Ramden Sinai" he pointed to the dark one. "And the other is Ulder McTavert."
"And I too," Scrimgeour added confidently. "Have had much experience in leading wizard armies. Surely you did not think this limp came from a fall down the stairs?"
"I am grateful for your help," Harry welcomed warmly, but firmly. "We must leave as soon as possible. I am not sure what kind of world we are leading these brave people into, but we must go now. Your protection and leadership will be invaluable."
"We will do whatever we can to make sure we are victorious," Sinai said, his voice as deep as the ocean.
"Unfortunately," Hermione began as she waved her wand and a table appeared out of thin air. "There is much more to this than a battle." Hermione waved her wand one more time and a small volcano appeared and seemed to float in the air. She pointed to a red river on one side of the model Hermione had procured. "This river of lava makes things extremely dangerous. As you can see, the only way inside the outer gate is by a narrow path surrounded on either side by the river that combines further on - a bridge is the only way across that connection."
"Yes, the main concentration of Death Eater defenses," Harry continued for her. "Will be on this gate. It leads to a winding path that ends at a spire on the edge of the volcano. That is where Voldemort finds his solitude and where we must go."
"You mean ta go alone, lad?" McTavert asked a bit stunned.
"The three of us," Harry replied referring to Ron and Hermione, "Must confront Voldemort. There will be no protection that will keep us from flying in. He wants us to come to him."
"However, it will be that much more difficult to reach him if Death Eaters are swarming the spire," Ron finished. "If a main offensive with the intentions of looking like an assault on the main gate is waged, then the majority of Voldemort's forces will be preoccupied, leaving his halls sparse, or maybe even empty."
"So we are supposed to be pons in this?" Scrimgeour asked skeptically.
"No..." Harry shook his head. "Because the Death Eaters will be vast in numbers. The last time Voldemort fell, his followers were allowed to remain in hiding. This time, we wipe them out."
A nod of agreement went among Harry's generals and Hermione continued.
"This is where Harry must go," Hermione pointed her wand near the top. "If you look closely, there are several platforms stretching out over the mouth of the volcano. It is there we will find Voldemort and it is there that Harry must meet with Voldemort. It is important for all of us to understand, and it must be made clear to all who are here, that Harry must do this. Ron and I will be joining him, but in the end, Harry must face him."
"What that means," Ron explained. "Is that no matter what, do everything you can to give him the best chance he has of facing him without interference."
"We understand, laddie," McTavert grimaced. "We aren't here to fight his battle. We just want to help `im. We follow you, Mr. Potter." Scrimgeour and Sinai nodded in agreement and Mad-Eye put his gnarled hand on Harry's shoulder, enormous confidence found in his eyes. Harry nodded back and turned towards his army, who was waiting for him. To signal them to say the magic phrase, Hermione picked the call sign of his raising his staff. He closed his eyes for but a moment and then raised the Rune Staff of Edifice high into the air, brilliantly reflecting the sun that had just seeped through the clouds.
"Domus Infernus..."
The Valley of Fire.
Boiling lava; sharp rock; steaming-hot ash raining from the sky like deadly flower petals. Hundreds of Death Eaters waiting in fear. A thousand valiant wizards and witches ready to give their lives for one boy - the one who lived. He stands on a large rock surveying the landscape, his small, but courageous company waiting for his command. His eyes burn holes into the hearts and souls of his enemies. They know he is coming and there is nothing they can do to stop him. They will not stop Harry Potter.
END Chapter 20
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