The Battle for Peace

Chapter 6: Immortal

Christmas was only a day away, and still the halls were packed with students. Everyone traveled in groups, and no one was ever seen by him or herself. The attack on Hogwarts in early November caused uproar at the Ministry. Hogwarts was now under extreme protection, and the Ministry was taking drastic measures to protect the students. No one had gone home, believing that Hogwarts was still the safest place to be.

Harry had gone back to his dangerous, brooding self. No one dared bother him when he would sit and think by the window in the Gryffindor Common Room. Not a sound could be heard whenever he would talk, which, admittedly, wasn't often. It was impossible to carry on a conversation with Harry, even for Ron and Hermione.

Now, Harry was in his room, lying down on his bed, just staring at the ceiling. He was trying to remember when and where his life went wrong. He suspected that things took a turn for the worse when his parents died. If they hadn't been murdered, he wouldn't have had to live with the Dursley's. Of course, he knew that Voldemort would have been human still and probably would have become more powerful, but Harry wasn't trying to be a Good Samaritan right now. At the moment, he just cared about Harry.

Why does everything have to be this way? Why can't I just be a normal person? He asked himself these questions over and over again. He turned on his side to the pictures on his stand.

He, Ron, and Hermione were in quite a few pictures; so were Sirius, Remus, and his parents. Harry turned to his other side and saw the pictures that made his heart sink.

There she was. Surprise was etched all over her face, probably because Ron had taken her picture by surprise. It was early in the morning, and according to Ron, "She hadn't put her face on yet." Harry stood behind Ron in his Invisibility Cloak, trying to silence his laughs, but failing miserably. Needless to say, Ron did come out victorious in the end.

Another picture was there, of just the two of them. Her smile was so big, her laugh made him laugh...

He remembered how happy he was whenever she listened to him. It wasn't very often, though, he thought. We never talked. I guess that's what scared her about the whole relationship. She wanted something, and I wasn't even trying to give it to her.

Did life really have to be so complicated?

§§§

"Remus, can I speak with you for a bit?" Remus looked up from grading papers and frowned slightly.

"Of course, Sirius," he replied.

Sirius entered Remus's office, smiling slightly at the memories that came flooding back to him suddenly.

"Do it, Jamsie, or I'll hex you," he threatened. James looked at him from over his glasses. Remus chuckled dryly.

"If he does, Lily will certainly never forgive him," he stated. James flushed scarlet.

"I don't care what Lily thinks about me," he argued in vain. Sirius let out a bark-like laugh, causing Professor Maloe to glare at them. The three of them sat there with the most angelic looks they could muster. Maloe returned to the board, talking about...something.

"Give us away, eh, Padfoot?" James hissed, smacking him upside the head. Sirius scowled.

"I will go on if you won't do it! Maybe Lily-dearest will even like you for--"

"James, do not for one second believe what he's trying to say. Lily will hate you even more if you keep on with your tricks," Remus warned. Sirius smirked.

"Half of his tricks are yours," he said. Remus tried not to grin.

"Even so..."

"I'll do it," James announced, Marauder instinct taking over. "Langua Binden," he muttered, pointing his wand at Professor Maloe.

"Why don't you ever listen to reason, James?" Remus asked James and the Heavens.

"Thames Podda!!!" James looked over to see Lily staring at him in disbelief.

"Guess that new tongue-tied spell works, eh, Evans?" he asked, flashing his most charming smile. Lily scoffed and turned away.

"You thee a in vey bi double!" Maloe shouted. The class laughed.

"Sickle for your thoughts?" Remus inquired. Sirius turned to him, smiling.

"Just reminiscing," he said.

"So, what did you want to talk to me about?" Remus asked. Sirius hesitated at first, and then began.

"It's about that--well, I don't really know if I should even--it's about that "prophecy"," he said, quoting with his fingers. "Why did you have to tell Dumbledore?"

Remus was shocked at hearing this. "Well, I thought it was the right thing to do. I'm surprised you didn't." Sirius scoffed.

"Come on, Remus. Didn't you pause to consider that maybe it was part of the evil bastard's plan to tell Dumbledore once we found out about the whole scandal? I mean, I half expected you to have thought of it before me! What's going on, Remus?" He paused. "You're not someone under Polyjuice? Pettigrew? Some Death Eater? Voldemort?" he questioned. Remus raised an eyebrow, saying, "What the bloody hell, Sirius?" Well, it was the full moon.

"Why was it so wrong to tell him?"

"Because," he stressed, "Voldemort would probably intend for us to find--"

"We shouldn't be discussing this without the proper charms," Remus stated, beginning to place charms everywhere.

"You see? This is what I'm talking about! I wasn't even thinking about safety, and here you are putting charms on everything! Where was your brain four weeks ago?" Sirius groaned. Moony was acting different lately. Was it really just the full moon?

"Sirius, I must say, even if it was part of Voldemort's plan--I'm not saying it is--but if it was, I still would have told Dumbledore." Sirius sighed.

"I would have, too, but you're also leaving out a very important factor."

"What is that, exactly?" Remus asked.

"Harry." Silence.

"What does Harry have to do with any of this?" he asked. Sirius looked at him. "You know what I mean, Sirius."

"I do."

"I really believe that Harry would have told Dumbledore anyway," Remus stated. "He ran off, so I told him instead."

"Hello!" Sirius yelled. "Do you have any idea what you're saying? Remus Juniper Lupin, you've have lost all touch with your feminine side!"

"Now wait just a minute--"

"Knew that'd get you on your feet," Sirius smiled slightly. Remus sighed, smiling too. "But, in all seriousness, no pun intended, you seem to forget something key: Harry ran off; not because he was scared of Voldemort, but because he was worried about a girl. Now, I didn't realize this for a while, nor did I expect it. You remember being a teenager, Moony. Rarely is there someone out there who might really get to you, even after it's over. Harry might have been concerned about the prophecy, he might have wanted to tell Dumbledore, but for some reason, he went somewhere to see someone.

"He is just like James was with Lily," he said. Remus froze.

"She could be it for him?" Remus whispered.

"I dunno, she might not be," Sirius whispered back, rolling his eyes as he did so. "Can we raise it up a few octaves?" he asked, still whispering.

"I don't see where you're headed with this. Can we address that later?" Remus asked.

"I guess, just thought I'd make a point. But the real point is, I don't think Harry really wanted to tell Albus about it."

"But Dumbledore knows better than everybody what's best for Harry."

"From what Harry told me, Dumbledore hasn't exactly been on the spot with things lately."

"Now, Sirius--"

"Wouldn't look at him in his fifth year, Moony. Harry trusted him, and Albus just pushed him away. He thought it was for his own good, but where did it lead them? A battle with the bloody "Dark Lord"! Sixth year? There's another damn prophecy, and someone hardly anyone knew was dragged into this whole thing... Why? Because Dumbledore thought it was the right thing to do! And this year, don't get me started!!!"

"You may want to hold your tongue for later."

Sirius and Remus turned around, eyes widening.

"Uh, oh."

&*&*&

It was official. Nothing was ever going to go right for Harry in his entire life. Everything was taken away before he could fully enjoy.

Harry was just about to fall asleep when someone knocked on his door.

"Go away, Hermione," he groaned, covering his face with a pillow.

"It's not Miss Know-It-All, it's Mr. Doesn't-Know-Enough," Ron replied. Harry sighed. "I'm coming in." Ron entered, sighing when he saw Harry on his bed. "Come on, mate. You can't stay in bed forever." Harry didn't even lift his head.

"I never even thought of that. Thanks, Ron," he said unenthusiastically. Ron almost smacked himself. Give him more brooding ideas, Ronald, a voice scolded, which sounded mysteriously like Hermione.

"Harry, what are you doing? I mean it; think about it. What are you doing? Why are you like this?" Ron asked. He wanted Harry to try and see what he was doing, to himself and to others. He wanted Harry to try and change. This Harry wasn't his best friend.

"Ron, she's your cousin. I would think you would understand what this is all about," Harry answered, remaining still. He was getting tired of trying to make his best friend see what he was going through. He would never understand.

"I know that, Harry. I guess..." he hesitated, "...I guess what I really want you to understand--" Harry snorted--"is that you should get over it."

Harry sat up quick as a rocket. Get over it?

"I think you know what I mean," Ron said, his hands clasped behind his back. Harry was furious.

"How am I supposed to get over this? She's in the Hospital Wing, Ron! I can't believe you're telling me this! Tell me, Ron, how--"

"Shut up, Harry." Harry, surprised at how calm and careless Ron's voice was, stopped.

"I meant you should get over this," he implied, pointing at something. Harry followed Ron's finger to the last picture on his dresser. There she was, with him, their arms around each other; that was when they were together. "That's probably the only reason this is eating you up so badly. Don't give all me that shite about how if it weren't for you, Voldemort wouldn't have done this or that. You are upset because your mind is set on boyfriend mode.

"You have to get it through to yourself that it's over, she doesn't see you like that anymore, and you guys are friends now."

"It's been in my head quite a while now, Ron," Harry stated. Ron shook his head.

"Is it in your heart?" he asked. Harry frowned. Was it?

He closed his eyes, remembering. Every time he heard her name or saw her face, his insides went crazy, his mind was in shambles, and although he would tell himself that it was over, his heart would not listen. He realized that, unknowingly, his heart had been pushing him to try and get her back. His heart was clinging to something that was so wonderful yet so out of reach.

Ron was right. He wouldn't be so hung up about everything if his heart would just get the damn message.

"When did you get so observant?" Harry asked. Ron smirked.

"Disaster 1000," he replied, which was what he referred his first and last date with Hermione as. "I'll leave you to, what's Hermione always saying? Oh, "collect your thoughts." Ron grinned, leaving Harry alone to fix his mess.

§§§

"Now, I just want to inform you both that I completely understand where you two are coming from. Please," he asked, holding up both of his hands, his eyes twinkling, "please, don't interrupt.

"I will be the first--well, as you said it earlier I really can't be--let's just say I'll be the next person to tell you that, yes, I haven't exactly been on the lookout as well I should be lately. Things have gone past me that cannot be allowed to or even afforded to pass through.

"I'm getting older, Sirius. I know that that is no excuse for the way things have been, but you must admit that it is not entirely healthy to lay your life and the lives of others in front of an old coot," he said, eyes twinkling brightly. Sirius snickered, but one look from Remus forced him to stop. "I know you want to protect Harry, but things are not the way they used to be when you were young. None of us can shield Harry from what he has to face."

Sirius contemplated what Dumbledore had just told him. Yes, things were different when he was younger, but did everything have to be so different? He didn't really want to shield Harry; no, just protect him. He knew, from Harry had told him, that it was his duty to fight Voldemort in the final battle, no matter what would become of him. Though, Sirius thought, he wasn't looking straight at me when he said that. He was looking at something else.

"Sirius, Remus, let me leave you with these words: The brave may not live forever, but the cautious do not live at all." Remus lifted his head.

"James use to say that," he whispered. Dumbledore nodded. Sirius was confused.

"Forgive me, Albus, but what exactly do you mean by that?" he asked. Dumbledore smiled and explained:

"You may want to be cautious and try to keep Harry safe, but things will not be nearly as exciting as they could be, and certain things that need to happen will not come to pass." Sirius was silent, and Remus was the same. Dumbledore just sat there, his hands neatly folded, as if he had won a chess match.

"I-I understand, Albus," Sirius finally announced. Dumbledore nodded, signaling that they could leave. With a last glance at Dumbledore, they left. He sighed.

"Now, all that's left to fix is the problem in the magical community," he said.

&*&*&

Harry was currently inside his shower, hot, steaming water pouring down his back. He had tried to convince himself that it was over, and that she didn't want it to last anymore; she couldn't even if she tried, what with her condition in the Hospital Wing. This caused Harry to groan, his mind filling with thoughts on how everything was his fault and how good she might look in a bathing suit. He was getting nowhere.

He tried to distract himself by turning on his Wizarding Wireless, but every song he tuned into was a love song of some sort, be it a romantic song or a break-up song. He then charmed it to play Muggle songs, but they too were about love, in every language. He didn't turn it off, though.

He leaned against the walls of the shower, sighing. He seemed to be doing a lot of that lately. He just couldn't fathom why everything was so hard. Why did he have to suffer through so much just for a silly break-up? Why did he have to fight to the death with some crazy, power-hungry wizard, who just needed a life of his own? Simply because, his conscience told him, he is power-hungry and really can't get a life now; and the break-up is not silly. It never is for anybody.

Nothing could make him feel any worse than he did right now.

"Harry, come out and dress right now. It's absolutely urgent!" Hermione's voice urged from the other side of the door.

Well, he thought, this might make me feel worse.

"What is it, Hermione?" he asked lazily, surprised at how different his voice sounded, now.

"Harry James Potter, get out here right now! If you don't, I swear that I will make you come out, clothed, toweled, or not!" she threatened. Not wanting to suffer any embarrassment, Harry quickly wrapped a towel around him and hopped out of the shower. As soon as he opened the door, a wave of cool air enveloped him. Well, it was December and he had just taken a hot--no, scratch that--a boiling hot shower.

"That's better," Hermione remarked, putting her wand away. Harry was shocked.

"You really were going to do that?" he asked, frankly a little shocked and frightened that Hermione would go through with a threat so quickly.

"If the shoe fits, Harry," she replied. "Hurry up and get dressed," she said, handing him some clothes, her expression stoic. "I'll tell you about it when we get there." He took his clothes from her, closing the door as he proceeded to dress. What exactly was going on here?

When he was finished and out of the bathroom, Hermione immediately led him out into the hall where Ron was waiting for them, his face totally serious. The two started to power-walk, irritating Harry.

"Where are we going?" he asked, voice showing his impatience. They didn't answer him; rather, they sped up. He asked them again.

"Just wait until we get there, Harry, can you do that?" Ron asked, growing impatient as well.

"Ron," Hermione scolded quietly, " I know this is serious but you have no reason to be impatient."

"Hermione, it affects me, too." Harry did not understand what his friends were fighting about, but dreaded finding.

"Go on, Harry," Hermione said. Harry, not knowing they had arrived at their destination, looked around to try and get his bearings. He realized that they were at the Hospital Wing.

"What are we doing here?" he wanted to ask, but Ron and Hermione were already ushering him inside. Instead, he asked:

"What are you doing?"

"You have to see her right now," Ron urged.

"Like I've been doing for the past few weeks?" he questioned, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "What's so special about tonight?" Hermione looked at him, her voice lowering with each word she spoke.

"This will be the last time you'll ever see her."

*&*&

Remus and Sirius were alone in Remus's room, eating their dinner silently. Both were a little dazed after Dumbledore's speech. They had never actually noticed that he wasn't as young as he used to be, but, as Sirius so kindly explained:

"It's probably because the age difference isn't much between now and then. Plus, his hair was white back then, too."

Remus didn't even dignify Sirius's theory with a response.

Dinner was usually noisy between the two of them; there was always something or other to discuss or joke about. But, at the present time, things were dark and difficult to make fun of.

"Remus," Sirius began, breaking the silence. "Remus, how exactly is Harry? His owls to me are short, bearing less information than he usually would send." Remus frowned.

"How so?" he asked. Sirius's brow furrowed as he peered at Lupin.

"Dear Sirius, I'm okay, Love, Harry," he repeated. Remus was stunned.

"That's--"

"All," Sirius finished his sentence for him. He sighed. "I know this war has been terrible, especially for him, but what could have caused him to take a turn for the worse?" At this point, Remus had started to whistle quietly. Sirius, who knew Remus like a book, started to question Remus about what he knew. As Sirius's interrogations grew more demanding, Remus's whistling grew louder.

"Damn it, Moony, just tell me!" he demanded.

"You said it yourself earlier; I don't know why you've suddenly become blind about the subject," Remus stated. Sirius tapped his fingers on the table, waiting. "All right," Remus relented. "The girl."

"So, what you're saying is, that whole bellowing explanation on how he loved her was not just something all teenagers say about their first interest, correct? That Harry really is in love with someone?" Sirius inquired, trying to comprehend that his godson was going to pieces over a girl.

"Exactly, Sirius," Remus confirmed. "Like you said earlier, it's probably not going to be the only love, but...well, you must admit that he's never fought so strongly against one thing to defend another. What happened must have been the breaking point."

"What happened?" Sirius inquired, eyes wide at a new piece of information.

"She's under the Curse of Danaev," he said. Sirius, who had started to take a swig of Butterbeer, dropped his mug. It fell to the floor with a resounding CRASH! Remus quickly fixed the mess with a quick Reparo and a Cleaning Charm. "There's still no cure for it, though Merlin knows I've seen Hermione in the library often, trying to find something to help." Sirius buried his head in his hands.

"Oh, Gods," he moaned. "I'd do anything for Harry, but I'd sure hate to be in his shoes right now. How's he taking it?" Remus hesitated before answering him.

"Like a stab in the heart."

Silence enveloped the room once more.

&*&

"This will be the last time you'll ever see her."

Hermione's words echoed throughout the Hospital Wing. Harry froze on the spot. He couldn't believe what he had just heard.

"Is-I mean is she-is she..." he trailed off. Hermione was flustered.

"Oh, no! Nothing like that, heavens no! It's just that, well...she needs proper care for her, er, condition, and Madam Pomfrey can't exactly give it to her. Come on, I mean, she has to look after other students, too. So, they're shipping her off to St. Mungo's tomorrow." She looked at her feet. "I'm sorry, Harry." Harry didn't look at either of them; he just looked at her lying on the bed. His breath became shaky and he felt the heat draining from his body. Finally, after a moment of contemplation, he turned to them with extreme grief showing in his eyes.

"Can I get a few minutes, you know, to--" Ron raised his hands.

"Go on, mate. I've already said my good-byes," he allowed, his voice barely above a whisper. Slowly, Ron and Hermione left the Hospital Wing, closing the door behind them. He knew, though, that they were waiting outside.

He turned to Ashley, lying there stiff as a board. He cautiously sat beside her, the bed creaking under his obviously heavy weight. He knew that she had probably lost a few pounds, and it broke him. He grasped her hand tightly in his. It was cold.

I'm so tired of being here.

Suppressed by all of my childish fears

And if you have to leave

I wish that you would just leave

Because your presence still lingers here

And it won't leave me alone...

It was very un-Harry like, he knew. This wasn't the person he used to be. But Voldemort had changed all of that. Nothing was the way it was suppose to be. This was the barely-living proof.

He leaned down so that his forehead was almost touching hers. Relieved, he could hear her breathing, however faint. Carefully, as if she were something fragile or made of glass, he removed the stray strands of hair from her face. Her skin was pale, and her body lacked the warmth he always felt.

He realized that, even in this state, in his eyes she was breathtakingly beautiful.

"Please don't go. You know why," he whispered, their noses touching. "I never stopped loving you. Whether you love me back is your choice, but I just need you here." He leaned down further and captured her lips in a hungry kiss. He swore that she moved slightly, but knew it was wishful thinking.

These wounds won't seem to heal

This pain is just too real

There's just too much that time cannot erase...

He let go, licking his lips, feeling a tingle where he met hers. He couldn't let her go emotionally, though. Nor could he let her go physically, so he kissed her once more.

What a surprise when she responded.