Imagine me and you, I do
I think about you day and night, it's only right
To think about the girl you love and hold her tight
So happy together
--Happy Together by The Turtles (originally by The Beatles)
O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O
"What the bloody hell do you mean they won't wake up?" Ron asked, his voice growing louder and louder as he went on. Madame Pomfrey sighed in exasperation, one hand on her hip and the other pointing at the redhead in front of her.
"I will not have you yelling in my hospital like it's a quidditch match, Mr. Weasley," Pomfrey said. Ron sighed and shook his head.
"I'm sorry but…why won't they wake up?" he asked.
"If you would have let me finish the first time, you would know by now," Pomfrey said. She paused for a second before continuing. "I've put them both in a magical coma to stabilize their bodies. Right now, both of them are too weak and if I were to let them go, their bodies would overload and go into shock and kill them. This way, the get the rest they need and their magic and bodies can recuperate at a faster speed." Ron sighed in relief.
"So they aren't stuck this way?" he said. She shook her head. He sighed and again and fell back into the chair that sat between the beds his best friends were in. "That would have been really bad if they were stuck this way."
"How long will they be out?" he asked before Pomfrey left for her office.
"I've put a timing spell on them also. As time passes and they recover, the coma will reduce less and less until eventually they wake up on their own, like they were taking a nap," she said. Giving him one last nod, she left the room.
Ron looked first at Harry, who was pale as snow and then to Hermione, who looked stiff as a board. He sighed.
"Well you two, looks like we're going to be here a while," he said.
O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O
1 week.
O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O
2 weeks.
O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O
3 weeks.
O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O
"Right, listen up you two," Ron said one morning, three weeks after the ritual had been done. "All hell as broken loose since you two have been out and I understand that you both, you know, almost died doing some antiquated ritual but I need you to stop dilly-dallying around and get better before we're toast!" Ron rubbed at his eyes and plopped down in his chair between the two beds. It was quiet for a few minutes.
"Well, if I knew you felt that way mate, I would've gotten up sooner," Harry's voice rasped from beside him. Ron jumped violently.
"Jumping Jesus!" he exclaimed. "Madame Pomfrey!" The nurse in question came bustling out of her office.
"What have I told you about bellowing in here Weasley? There are other patients who need their rest too!" she scolded him. All he did was point to Harry. She noticed that the boys' bright green eyes were visible and she jumped into action.
"Goodness gracious me, Mr. Potter," she mumbled. Busily, she waved her wand up and down his body, focusing on his chest and torso to make sure everything was working properly. Harry managed a small smile.
"Took you long enough mate," Ron grinned. Harry tried to sit up and had to have Ron help him.
"What happened? Where's Hermione?" Harry asked. Ron frowned.
"You don't remember? Right, well you two did the ritual and a bunch of freaky things started happening to you like you bleeding out of your ears and convulsing like it was your job and then the you know what was destroyed and you and Hermione both collapsed and you've been out for three weeks," Ron summed up. It was Harry's turn to frown.
"Where's Hermione?" he asked again. Ron glanced behind him.
"She's not awake yet mate," Ron said. He stepped aside so Harry could see. Hermione was lying in the same position she had been put in three weeks ago, though she looked much more comfortable; more like a human and less like a mummy. She had regained her color and her breathing was regular, but she hadn't shown any signs of waking.
"What's wrong with her?" Harry asked, looking at his girlfriend. Ron shrugged.
"You both went into some pretty heavy shock. Pomfrey put you guys under magical coma so you could recover," Ron replied. Harry nodded. He was quiet for a few seconds and gave Hermione one last concerned glance before looking up at Ron. He looked a little worse for wear.
"You look like hell mate," Harry said bluntly. Ron snorted.
"Yeah well, things happen when your two best friends are in comas and the world's gone to shite," Ron replied. Harry raised an eyebrow.
"What's been going on?" he asked. Ron sighed.
"There's been an attack almost every day since you two completed the ritual. I think it's because V-Voldemort is right pissed off," Ron said. "You know how you said he knew we knew about the you know whats? Well, I'm thinking he realizes we've gotten them all now." Harry winced.
"How many?" he asked.
"The paper's been running a death and injury toll," Ron said. "Morbid, I know," he added once he saw Harry's look. "As of the paper earlier today, just over four hundred are dead and a little under three hundred are injured."
"Blimey," Harry muttered. Ron nodded.
"St. Mungo's doesn't know what to do with themselves. They've run out of room on the actual injury floors and have had to start putting people on the psych ward floors and whatnot. The morgue…Harry, they don't have enough room or time to do anything. People are dropping like flies. Apparently, they'd be doing well one day and by the next, they'd be dead. They're suspecting a delaying curse that doesn't set in immediately," Ron said. Harry ran a hand through his raven locks.
"That's a mess," was all he could say. A slight moaning interrupted their conversation and both boys turned to look at Hermione, whose eyelids were fluttering open.
"Hermione," both boys said. She blinked and looked over at them.
"Wasit?" she mumbled. "What happened?" she asked when she could finally speak a proper sentence. Ron quickly brought her up to speed with the things he had told Harry. She sat their quietly.
"That sounds like a bleeding nightmare," she said. At that time, Madame Pomfrey bustled over to her and began making sure she too was okay. Once the nurse was finished, the trio continued.
"So, do you two remember anything?" Ron asked. Hermione nodded and Harry shook his head.
"I remember everything up until I passed out," Hermione said.
"The only thing I can remember is…well, is Hermione telling me she loved me," Harry said, a slight blush dusting his cheeks. Hermione smiled slightly and while Ron smirked, he didn't say anything.
"It worked, though," Hermione said. "It was easily the worst of them all." Harry nodded.
"I was the last one," he said. "He was at his strongest then."
"How do you feel mate?" Ron asked. Harry raised one eyebrow at the redhead and then looked down to his incapacitated body. Ron gave him a sheepish look.
"I meant, how does your head feel? Anything different?" Harry stopped and thought for a second. Now that he focused on what he felt like…he felt good. Damn good.
"I feel a lot happier, actually," Harry said. And he did. He felt as if a weight was lifted off of his chest. He didn't have the constant feeling of uneasiness in his subconscious at all. He reached up at touched where his scar was. Where normally it was slightly raised, the skin there was smooth, though tender.
"It isn't gone mate, it's just…lighter," Ron said. "Honestly, it looks like it happened ages ago." Harry snorted.
"It did, seventeen years ago," he said. Ron rolled his eyes.
"I meant, it just looks like a regular old scar," Ron said. Harry couldn't help the large grin that overcame him.
"What about you, Hermione. How do you feel?" Harry asked.
"I feel perfectly normal," she said. "I'm sort of tired, but other than that, I don't feel like anything is different about me."
"Good! It's settled then," Ron said. "Harry no longer has Voldemort in his head and he's mortal now! I say let's go kick some arse." He looked at both of his friends. Harry laughed.
"I think you're right mate," he said. "Just…let me take a nap first?"
O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O
"The Order is being stationed in Bristol tonight," Harry whispered to Ron and Hermione. "They've gotten wind of an attack there." Ron nodded.
"Half in Bristol, half in Reading," Ron said. "He's gone quite a few miles away from the normal attacks."
"The muggle toll has finally surpassed the wizarding toll," Hermione said, pointing to the newspaper she was reading over breakfast. "Five hundred muggles alone, nine hundred total."
"This is getting way out of hand," Harry seethed. "I understand the Order is doing what it can but obviously that isn't enough. We need to do something."
"Like what though, mate?" Ron asked. "I'm all for it, don't get me wrong. But I wouldn't even know where to start." Harry nodded.
"We're going to start it right here," Harry said. "Hermione, do you still have those coins you charmed for the DA?" She nodded. "Send the message that we're holding a meeting tonight at eight in the Room of Requirement."
O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O
They had an excellent turn out that evening. Everyone except maybe a couple people from the original DA had shown up, and then they brought more of their friends. Harry, Ron, and Hermione stood in front of the group, waiting for everyone to settle down.
"Oi! You lot, shut up!" Ron said, cupping his mouth so that his voice carried. The large group quieted immediately and Harry had to laugh.
"Thanks Ron," he said. He turned his attention to the group in front of him. "Right well, as I'm sure you all know things are getting absolutely out of control. The Ministry is hardly doing a damn thing. Our Auror's are getting killed and injured left and right because they're outnumbered. Something's got to be done." There were many murmurs and agreement.
"I've called this meeting to see what exactly you think we should do about it, since no one else is stepping up," Harry said. There was an excited undertone to the crowd in front of him.
"I say we go kick their arses!" a voice cried. Several people shouted their agreement. Harry nodded.
"Right well, that is what's going to be done," he said. "There's no doubt in my mind of what's going to happen. But, the question is, how do we go about doing it?" It was quiet before a small voice broke through.
"We could s-split up and go after them on our own," said a small girl that looked to be around thirteen. She must have been one of the ones introduced that night, Harry realized.
"What do you mean?" he asked. She shrugged.
"Well, a lot of you are seventh years. The school year is close to being over, only four months left. Maybe the older people can leave the school and stick together, you know, as sort of our own army. The rest of us can stay here, look out for news and such and let you guys know what's happening within the school," the girl said. Harry thought for a moment.
"That could work," he said. "What's your name?"
"Alyssa," she said. Harry nodded.
"Thank you Alyssa," he said. "That sounds like a good plan. Is there anyone else?" No one said a thing. Harry nodded.
"Well, looks like we need to plan our escape then," Harry grinned. Loud cheers were heard throughout the entire room.
O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O
Harry, along with Hermione and Ron, made their way to the Headmistress' office the next day after lunch.
"Red Courage," Harry said to the large gargoyle that protected the entrance. It jumped aside and the three made their way up the stairs. Hermione knocked and they entered upon acceptance.
"Potter," McGonagall said in surprise. "Miss. Granger, Mr. Weasley." They greeted her in return.
"What can I do for you?" she asked. The three students were silent for a minute and McGonagall looked at them expectantly. Ron pushed Harry to the front slightly.
"Well," Harry began. "A majority of the seventh years, in fact all houses but Slytherin, have come to an agreement of sorts." McGonagall raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?" she said. Harry nodded.
"We know there is still four months of school left, but we'd like permission to leave the castle," Harry said.
"And why is that?" McGonagall asked. Harry was silent.
"We'd like to fight, Professor," Hermione spoke up. "We understand that things are being done, but obviously what's being done isn't helping any. The death toll now is larger than the First War in half the time. Something needs to be done."
"And what do you all think you can do?" McGonagall asked. "Grown wizards and witches are being killed and they've all completed their schooling. I cannot allow forty of my students to sign their death warrant." Harry sighed.
"Professor, with all due respect, you can't stop us," he said. "We're all seventeen and older, legal adults. We can leave on our own. But we would like your blessing to do so." McGonagall sighed.
"I don't understand what you think you'll be able to accomplish," she said.
"A lot more than what we're doing here," Ron piped up. "All we're doing now is sitting back and watching people die. We're sitting in a castle, eating three healthy meals a day with the ability to sit with our friends and play quidditch while other people are starving to death watching their own friends die fighting for freedom."
"It's forty more people we don't have out there right now. We're young. We can blend in a little better. And I'm not saying we're better wizards and witches, because we still have a lot to learn, but you have to admit we have youth on our sides. We're quick, agile, and less prone to injuries. We heal quicker too," Harry said.
"We may die doing this, but at least we died fighting," Hermione said. "Isn't that the motto of the Order?" McGonagall sat back in her chair and suddenly she looked older than her eighty years.
"You're right. We need all the help we can get. It's just…you all are children. You shouldn't have to do this, grow up with this," she said.
"But we have, and we are," Harry said. "And this entire situation sucks, without a doubt. But we have a shot here, Professor. Voldemort is no longer immortal, so to speak. This is our chance." Their Professor was quiet while she looked hard and each of the three students in front of her. She sighed.
"Okay," she said. "All right, go." Harry nodded.
"Thank you," he said. She nodded.
"Send me an owl before all of you leave so I can get a few things in order for you. And…be careful, all of you. Please?" she said. The three of them nodded and left the office.
O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O
Another meeting was called, this time for just the seventh years. The forty students gathered together once more for what was quite possibly the last time they would all be in each other's presence.
"We've gotten the go-ahead from McGonagall," Harry said. Cheers were heard through out the room. "Hermione here has made a list of the things we will need to bring with us. I think you should all write to your families and tell them what's happening." The last words had a sobering effect on the group. What if they never saw their families again?
The meeting adjourned and left Harry, Ron, and Hermione as the last ones in the room.
"So we're really doing this, huh?" Ron said. Harry nodded.
"We're really doing this."
(TBC)
Well, shit is about to go down.
I'm placing this story at around 28 chapters, maybe 29. I'm not exactly sure yet because I need to plan out how everything about to happen will, well, happen. But look for it to be around there, and no more than 30 (and that's pushing it).
Thanks for reading!
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