The Ultimate Power

You calm the storms
And you give me rest
You hold me in your hands
You won't let me fall
You still my heart
And you take my breath away
Would you take me in
Take me deeper now

And how can I
Stand here with you
And not be moved by you
Would you tell me
How could it be
Any better than this

'Cause you're all I want
You're all I need
You're everything
Everything

-Lifehouse (Everything)

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Everything

Beginning to middle of June, 1998

The following weeks passed in a blur for the seventh years at Hogwarts. The school library was all but overflowing with stressed students studying for the upcoming exams. Hermione was the worst of the lot, running rampant with books overflowing from her bag and arms, snapping at anyone who dared to cross her, and critisising the study habits of her classmates.

Holli had quickly learned to avoid her female friend's company following dinner every night and chose to study with Remus instead, fearful of a mental overload if exposed to the frazzled girl any longer than necessary. Remus, of course, welcomed the company, but for more than one reason. He was admittedly worried about Holli after their night spent by the lake. She did seem happier, however, after she had told Remus of her past. Her nightmares, while having not completely abated, had tapered off somewhat and she was gaining much more sleep.

Harry, on the other hand, was still distant. He had stopped avoiding her for the sake of their other two friends, but refused to discuss any serious topics with her. Anytime he was left alone was spent in stony, cold silence and deep thoughts. He was still blaming himself, and she knew that without a doubt. While Remus watched Holli, she observed Harry.

One day in late May, an announcement had been placed in each common room for all seventh years to see. Holli had heard the squeals of delight from the girls even as she climbed the stairs outside of the Fat Lady's portrait.

"What's going on?" she had asked Hermione dubiously as she threw Lavender and Parvati a disgusted look.

Hermione had sighed. "They're having a Ball for all the leaving seventh years shortly after exams are finished." Hermione had looked up from her parchment and given Holli a look of immense amusement. "I gather they're rather excited about it."

"You think so?" Holli had remarked with raised eyebrows.

Three days later, as the first week of June arrived, Holli had witnessed a scene that still made her grin. She and Hermione had been walking around the lake, enjoying the warm weather and sunshine during a much needed study break when Ron had appeared at their sides, panting for breath.

"'Mione," he had gasped out incomprehensibly, "willgothe'allwime?

"I'm sorry?" Hermione had asked, startled. "Ron, calm down and get your breath back. I can't understand a word you're saying."

Holli had been just as relatively puzzled.

Ron had bent over at the waist and placed his hands upon his knees, struggling for air. When he had gained it once more, he straightened and looked Hermione in the eye.

"Last time there was a Ball," he had said to her, "you told me to ask you myself instead of criticising who you did go with. So I'm taking your advice and I want to know: Will you go to the Leaving Ball with me?"

Hermione's eyes had widened throughout the speech and her mouth had worked silently, seemingly unable to form words. Holli, grinning and ever helpful, had leaned up behind her and whispered softly into her ear, "Yes, Ron, I would love to."

"Yes, Ron, I would love to," Hermione had exhaled on a breath of air. Ron had beamed.

Two days later found Holli in the Owlery sending a message to Janie. Concentrating on tying her letter to the school owl, she ignored the light footsteps approaching her from behind.

"There we are," she told the bird. "Now, take your time; there's no rush. You'll get there when you get there, all right?" The owl nibbled her finger gently before taking off into the sunset.

It was only then, while watching as the form grew smaller in the distance, that she noticed the presence leaning against the wall beside her. She jumped and turned to see Harry.

"Say something, would you?" she exclaimed, placing a hand over her heart. "You nearly gave me a coronary."

"Sorry," he said apologetically. "I didn't mean to startle you."

Holli breathed deeply for a moment, waiting for her heart to travel back down from her throat before asking, "What are you doing up here?"

"Hermione told me you were here," he replied. "I wanted to talk to you."

"All right," she spoke cautiously. "What about exactly?"

"I - well, I've had quite a bit of time to think and I wanted to apologise," he told her sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. "I should never have shouted at you like I did, Holli, and I'm sorry. I just - too many people have died and the more that do, the harder I find it not to blame myself for every one of them."

Holli shook her head. "I know that, Harry. You know I do. All I was trying to do was convince you that it wasn't your fault."

"I know," Harry sighed, turning to the open window. "They have been, though. Some of them."

"Harry, you have to stop blaming yourself for Sirius' death," Holli whispered. "You didn't push him through the veil."

Harry closed his eyes tightly. "He wouldn't have even been there if it wasn't for me, Holli. Please don't deny that, because you know it's true."

"You're right," Holli told him, squeezing his arm gently, "he wouldn't have." Harry's hands clenched around the stone and Holli reached down and pulled them into hers. "But you and I both know that Sirius was a loose cannon, Harry. He was never content to sit idly by and watch other people fight all the battles. If the Department of Mysteries had never happened, something else would have, eventually.

"Nobody can protect everyone, Harry," she continued just as softly, "not even you, no matter what nonsense that head of your's is filled with. It'll always hurt every time you lose someone, but you have to understand that what happens can't be changed, or even stopped in most cases. You do what you can, and when there's nothing left, you mourn and cry. That's all anyone can ever do, Harry."

"I don't like it," Harry murmured to the stones.

Holli provided him with a sad smile that he did not see. "No one does."

They stared out the arched window towards the forest in silence for a long time, both lost in dark thoughts. Finally, Harry sighed and turned to her, wearing a small smile.

"So, I was thinking," he began.

"You can do that?" Holli interjected, smirking.

"Ha bloody ha," he said, bumping her shoulder good-naturedly. "Yes, I can think on my own, thank you and it was about the Leaving Ball, actually. I was wondering if you'd let me take you to try and make up for how I treated you before?"

"I don't need you to make up for it, Harry. I understand."

"Even so," he told her, "I'd like to if you'll come. I know you won't go with anyone else because of Remus, so who better to escort you than me?" He flashed her a large grin. "You really shouldn't miss out just because of that, Holli."

"I don't know..." she replied hesitantly.

"You never know," Harry prodded a bit more, "you might even be able to get a dance or two out of Remus. At least, so long as you dance with some of the other professors as well."

Holli glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. "Isn't there someone else you would rather take than just your friend who you already know is spoken for?"

Harry heard what she wasn't directly asking and he sighed. "I can't take Ginny, Holli, and you know why. Besides, you need me more right now and Ginny'll have her own Ball next year."

"You're sure?" she asked. "I don't want you to miss out either."

"Positive," he replied, throwing an arm round her shoulders. "How can I miss out when I'll be in the company of one of my best mates with the added bonus of her not expecting me to dance at all?"

Holli finally grinned at him as she shook her head. "You're incorrigible, but I suppose I'll deal with you anyhow."

"That's the spirit," Harry laughed out as Holli poked him in the ribs.

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The following weekend, all students attending the Leaving Ball were permitted to travel to Hogsmeade to acquire any necessities they may need for the occasion. The foursome went together, Ron and Hermione holding hands as they made the journey down the lane. Once there, Hermione and Holli departed from the boys' company in search of dresses while Harry and Ron went to purchase their new dress robes.

Exams began in earnest the next week and the four friends barely had an opportunity to breathe as the school year slowly drew to a close. They worked hard, however, and all four felt confident that it had paid off. As the week ended, along with the horrid N.E.W.T.s, the Ball and their last day at Hogwarts approached quickly.

Curiously enough, Remus' interest seemed to have been piqued at the thought of Holli's dress. Over the past week, he had tried every manner of persuasion in an attempt to discover exactly what she would be wearing to the Ball. It was for this reason, after receiving a note from Remus asking her to meet him in the third floor Charms corridor after classes one evening, that Holli was particularly suspicious.

Holli arrived precisely on time, searching up and down the corridor for Remus and finding him nowhere in sight. Sighing, she leaned her back against the door to a broom cupboard to wait. Just as she did so, the door was flung open unexpectedly and an arm snaked out from the dark, supporting her overbalanced frame and dragging her within. Her back was pushed up against the far wall and a warm body pressed flush against her chest.

"Tell me what you're wearing," a husky voice commanded, moist breath misting over her ear, causing her to shiver in desire.

"I hardly think this is appropriate, love," she forced out through her suddenly dry mouth. Remus chuckled low in his throat and Holli barely had the strength to keep her knees from giving out beneath her.

"That's precisely the point," he growled as he pressed hot kisses along her jaw line.

Holli laughed weakly. "You do realise what will happen if someone catches us in here, don't you?"

Remus briefly pulled back, flashing white teeth at her as he grinned. "What are they going to do?" he asked lightly, eyes shining in the darkness. "You've already sat your exams and we'll both be gone by the end of next week." He leaned back in, nipping her ear gently with his teeth.

"Besides," he continued, kissing the sensitive flesh behind her ear, "what type of Hogwarts couple would we be if we did not get off in a musty broom cupboard at least once?"

A growl emerged from the back of his throat as his lips traveled down the length of her neck, coming to rest just above her collar bone. His teeth sank into her skin and that was Holli's undoing. Her hands rose to his head and her fingers threaded through the hair at the nape of his neck. Remus suckled at the abused flesh before his mouth continued its downward descent.

They left cautiously an hour later. As they made their way to Remus' quarters, they encountered a smirking Harry.

"Have fun?" he questioned wickedly.

"What are you talking about?" asked Holli bemusedly, acting as innocent as possible.

Harry's smile widened. "I know where you two were." He held up a folded piece of parchment which was clutched in his hand. "I couldn't find you earlier, so I used this instead."

Remus flushed scarlet, his eyes widening as Harry began to laugh. Holli, on the other hand, wrested the Marauder's Map from his loosened grip and knocked him round the head with it.

"You daft sod!" she cried as Harry attempted to shield his head from the oncoming blows. "You'll not get this back until we're out of this castle for good, mark my words!"

Remus sighed and shook his head. "Just be happy that we refused to let Sirius make it so that you could actually see people instead of just their names when we created that thing."

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The following Saturday, the seventh year girls of Gryffindor spent the majority of the afternoon locked away in their dorm, preparing for the festivities of that evening. They primped, curled, smoothed, and admired to the gasps and exclamations of the others within the room. The boys, on the other hand, dressed half of an hour before the Ball was due to start, barely finishing in time.

Harry and Ron arrived in the Entrance Hall with moments to spare, chests heaving as they attempted to regain the air their lungs demanded. All around them there were couples milling about, dressed in all different colours and styles of formal wear. The professors, as well, were dressed spectacularly, all meandering around the walls, attempting to keep some semblance of order among the mass chaos. Harry spied Remus positioned beside the closed doors of the Great Hall, eyes moving back and forth between the students and the staircase.

Just as the doors were opened to allow the seventh years access to the large room, Harry felt a nudge in his side from Ron and turned to gaze up the stairs. His breath caught in his throat. Hermione and Holli glided arm in arm over the marble of the risers, looking for all the world in their very element.

Both girls were the very definition of beauty, one light while the other was dark. Hermione's dress was a light golden colour, highlighting her eyes and hair and causing her to emit a glow of warmth from every pore she possessed. Holli's dress was black with touches of grey and silver shot through it in various places. Her eyes blazed with a sinister quality that Harry had never noticed before. Everything about the girl that night screamed power and seduction.

Holli quirked her lips at him in a knowing expression and Harry quickly averted his eyes as he felt a flush stain his cheeks. His eyes landed on Remus and he grinned as he saw the man struggling to control his reaction to the girl while he herded students through the doors. His eyes kept flitting back towards Holli, though, seemingly unable to stop.

"Too much, do you think?" an amused voice whispered in his ear as a warm arm looped through his.

Harry smiled as he turned to Holli. "I think you've managed to acquire the reaction you were looking for."

She smirked as her dancing eyes darted to Remus as well. "I wonder if he'll be able to do anything more than sit at a table all night?"

"Merlin," Harry exclaimed as he clenched his eyes shut, "that is not something I ever needed to hear or think about. Poor bloke."

Holli chuckled. "Are you ready?"

"As I'm ever going to be, I think," he replied as led her to the double doors. As they passed through, Harry saw Holli wink at Remus out of the corner of his eye and thought he heard Remus choke slightly. He shook his head at her.

"What?" she asked innocently, eyes sparkling mischievously.

"He won't have to worry about a table now," he said sardonically. "He'll have to hide behind that door all night."

Holli snorted but did not reply further as they searched out Ron and Hermione. They found them nestled at a table against the wall, far away from any of the more high trafficked areas. They seated themselves in two of the remaining chairs and gazed around the decorated Hall. All four House's colours were displayed for all to see along with numerous twinkling lights.

"So," Holli began, "are the decorations better this time or were they better during the Yule Ball?"

Hermione gazed around the room, biting her lip in thought.

"This time, I think," she responded finally. "The Yule Ball was beautiful, of course, but it was all a bit...flashy. Internationally so, which I suppose makes sense if you consider it. This is more Hogwarts, though. It suits the school better."

The rest of the evening passed in much of the same way. Hermione managed to drag Ron onto the dance floor with very little persuading, considering. Holli even succeeded in convincing Harry to dance with her, which surprised her as much as him. When they had been there for an hour, Holli asked Hagrid to dance, followed by Flitwick. After a long moment of hesitation, other students joined in. A few brave souls even asked McGonagall, who accepted readily, much to their surprise.

Sometime later and many dances in between with various students, Holli reached Remus.

"Would you care to dance with me, Professor Lupin?" she asked him, eyes sparkling with mirth.

Remus smiled. "I would love to, Holli."

They found an empty space near the edge of the dance floor, far away from prying ears and began their slow paced movements.

"You seem to be faring well enough," Holli commented lightly.

"What with?" he asked bemusedly.

The corner of her lips twitched upwards as she replied, "Harry and I had a bet as to how much time you'd spend hiding under tables or behind doors tonight."

Remus snorted in amusement. "Of course you did." He looked at her then, trying to control his smile. "Was it that noticeable?"

"Only to someone who was looking for it," she assured him. "You actually looked as though someone had trodden on your toes. Eyes as big as Bludgers, I swear!"

"You see," he said caustically, "this is why I kept asking you what you were planning to wear. I hate being caught with my pants down."

"Oh, it wasn't that bad," she told him with a grin. "You were quite adorable, all red flushed and gaping. Reminded me of a broiled fish."

Remus shook his head but did not reply and Holli's grin widened.

"So," she said, changing the subject, "how far do you think we can stretch this?"

Remus considered the question for a moment before answering, "Probably two dances at the most. Almost everyone knows we're closer than your average student and professor, but I think three would be pushing our luck a bit."

Holli sighed. "I suppose we should make the most of it then, yeah?"

Remus hummed in agreement and smiled down at her. They swayed in silence, neither wanting to move their gaze away from the other, but desperately trying not to look suspicious. Remus' hands rested lightly upon her satin covered hips and Holli could feel the vibrations of the music through his fingertips.

It amazed Holli how everything Remus did or said to her always felt as though it was twenty times greater and more important than it actually was. Cliché as it may have sounded, with his arms wrapped around her, she felt as though she could lift straight off the ground and fly directly to the stars with nary a thought. It was contentment like she had never known existed.

"Have I told you," Remus murmured softly, his warm breath puffing against her skin, "how beautiful you look tonight?"

Holli smiled and felt heat spread across her cheeks. "No, but I got the message earlier when I first saw you."

"Doesn't mean I can't still tell you, though," he countered.

"No, I suppose it doesn't," she sighed, forcing herself not to wrap her arms around his waist and lean her head against his chest.

The second song ended shortly after and Holli reluctantly pulled herself from Remus' arms. He bowed to her slightly before she turned to walk away and grabbed her hand, placing a gentle kiss upon it.

"Thank you for the dance, Miss Fallen," he whispered to her and a shiver raced down her spine. She offered him a small, shaky smile and departed in search of Harry. He watched her disappear into the mass of bodies, failing to notice the presence of the Headmistress behind him.

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The next day was spent packing for all of the students in the castle. The train was due to leave the following morning and it was very unlikely that the departing seventh years would ever return again. It was with a subdued mood that Holli found herself wandering the corridors and grounds alone.

Quite truthfully, she wasn't ready to leave. One year just wasn't enough time to spend at Hogwarts. Holli did not think that even seven years was enough time, really. There was so much here; so much to see and discover, and she had bypassed almost all of it. She still had no idea what she wanted to do as a career and it troubled her more than almost anything. How was she supposed to choose what she would do well at with only one year of schooling under her belt? Holli really did not know.

She turned the corner with a sigh and ran into one of the last people she expected to see.

"Ah, I thought if I wandered enough, I'd eventually find you," her father remarked brightly.

Holli shook her head and stared at him warily. "Dad? Why are you here?"

Surprisingly, Jenx Fallen looked sheepish. His eyes focused upon everything around him except his own daughter.

"Well," he finally replied, "I wanted to talk to you, actually. Are you busy right now?"

Holli crossed her arms over her chest and did not answer.

Jenx sighed. "I'm not going to force you to leave, Holli. I simply want to talk, that's all."

She gazed at him, eyes travelling from head to toe and back up, silently judging him.

"All right," she finally answered wearily.

"Come down by the lake?" he asked.

"I suppose."

She followed him through the castle and outside. When they were seated on a cluster of rocks on the shore, Jenx fidgeted with his robes for a while, gathering his thoughts. Finally, he turned to her and smiled.

"I hear that you did well in your exams."

Holli nodded. "I was pleased," she replied. "So was Remus."

"Remus?" her father questioned.

"Remus Lupin, the Defense professor this year. He tutored me in everything. He's one of the largest reasons that I managed to do as well as I did."

Jenx stared at her for a moment, silently contemplating.

"You care about him," he finally said. It was a statement, not a question.

Holli smiled as she watched the lake's shimmering surface. "He's been good to me since the day I met him." She glanced at her father out of the corner of her eye. "So has Harry."

Jenx moved his gaze away from her. "Holli," he began quietly, "I'm sorry. I should not have been so cruel to you. I realised that soon after." He turned back, facing her directly. "You must understand, though. As your father, when it comes between your happiness and protecting you, my instincts rule. You're all I have, Holli; my only treasure. I can't lose you. You're too important."

"I do understand, Dad," she told him, looking back towards the lake, "but I'm not a child anymore. I'm old enough to know what's right and what's wrong and what consequences my decisions have." She took a deep breath before continuing. "I'm leaving Hogwarts tomorrow, Dad, and I'm going to fight in this war beside the people I've come to care about. Regardless of whether you approve or not."

Holli turned back to face him, expecting to see fury blazing across his face. What she saw instead was a tender smile and pride shining from his eyes.

"I am so very proud," he said softly, "to say that you are a true Gryffindor, Holli. I was a Ravenclaw and never had the type of bravery that you do. I have never been more proud than I am at this moment to call you my daughter."

He reached to her, wrapping his arms around her shoulders and pulling her close, hugging her tightly.

"I know that no matter what, you'll continue to make me proud," he whispered into her ear. "You're more than I could have ever hoped to be."

They sat by the lake for hours afterwards, talking and becoming reacquainted. He asked about everything she had done since he had left and she told him almost everything and he returned the favour.

As he was preparing to leave, he hugged her and said, "I'm leaving the country for a couple of weeks for work. I'll be back on the twenty-eighth if you'd like to come by mine the day after. We'll have a half-birthday, half-leaving Hogwarts celebration. You can bring your friends as well and their families, if they'd like to come." He paused briefly, studying her suddenly wary expression. "All of them, Harry included. I'll be good, I promise."

Holli assured him she would come and she would send him a note, telling him who else would join her. He smiled happily at her before turning and making his way to the front gates of the school. When Holli arrived in Remus' quarters a few minutes later, she was smiling joyfully as well.

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A/N: Thanks to my lovely beta, easleyweasley once again! Truly a diamond in the ruff!

The first comment about the Ball was technically supposed to be in the last chapter, but the whole thing came out completely serious, so I decided to hold off and simply add it to this one. Also, I know that they probably don't have a Leaving Ball in JK's version of Hogwarts, but I really needed it to put Hermione and Ron together. Yes, there were lots of ways I could have done this, but I liked this way, so there we go.

Only three chapters left, so hurry and get you votes in on the poll for the sequel's title. We're closing fast. -runs and cries -