Harry Potter and the Loss of Innocence

Chapter Twenty-Four: The Night Before Christmas

If I could be like that
I would give anything
Just to live one day in those shoes.
If I could be like that
What would I do?
~3 Doors Down: Be Like That

Harry arrived at the Burrow the next morning late. He had had such a bad night, what with the nightmares and all, that he had gone down to the common room to sleep. He didn't want to disturb Chris's sleep; unfortunately, Dobby was cleaning so Harry stayed up talking with the house elf. It was almost dawn when he fell asleep, only to be awoken several hours later by the other Gryffindors. He hurried to get dressed and went to breakfast with them, though he made them all late. He then had to get his bandage changed, but he was late for that again and had to put up with Madame Pomfrey's yelling and scolding. It was this that had set him back the farthest and Harry was happy to be away from Hogwarts and encased in the relative calm of the Burrow.

Ginny hurried outside; she had been watching the yard for an hour and a half. "You had better hurry up and get inside, Harry," she said worriedly. "Mum's worked herself into a worry tantrum and the sooner you get inside the better."

"It's nice to see you too, Gin," Harry said hugging her. She laughed at him and hugged him back. Thia rolled her eyes and headed inside.

"Sorry, luv, but the sooner she gets it out of her system the better off we'll all be," she said, leaning up to kiss him hello.

"Ginny, let him come inside," Bill's angry voice floated to them. "Mum's frantic."

"I love it how your brothers all think that the kisses are your idea," Harry told her with a laugh. "I'm going to have to remember that if they try to lynch me again." She hit him in the stomach and Harry doubled over.

"Ginny," Ron's voice shouted at them. "Get him inside and stop abusing him. He just got out of the hospital." Ginny helped Harry walk up to the house and Harry tried to recover. "And you thought you got a good girl, Harry," Ron told him with a smirk. "She's been cheating like that for years." Harry smiled at him weakly. They walked into the kitchen and Mrs. Weasley overwhelmed Harry.

"Oh, Harry, dear," she said hugging him. "I was so worried that something had happened to you and Thia when you both didn't arrive on time. I couldn't stop thinking of all the possibilities. I wondered if something had happened with your burnt arm and you needed to stay another day or if you had another vision and you stayed to talk about it to the Headmaster. And then I worried that Hogwarts was attacked and you were stuck there. I'm so glad you and Thia are all right. Merlin, what I would have done if something had happened to you!"

"Molly, dear," Mr. Weasley said, prying her arms off of him. "Let the boy breathe. He's fine and he's here. No use telling him what went through your mind these past few minutes."

Harry rubbed his sore ribs and smiled at her. "I'm fine, Mrs. Weasley. I just stayed up too late last night and then didn't get up on time. And then I got Madame Pomfrey mad and she yelled at me for about an hour." Thia started laughing as if that was the funniest thing in the world. Harry glared at her. "It wasn't that funny," he grumbled.

"You were trying so hard to calm her down and get out of there on time," she said laughing. "But it only made her angrier. If you would have kept your mouth shut she would have let you out on time." Harry just glared at her.

"Want to play a game of chess?" Ron asked in the pause that followed.

"Only if Gin plays for me," Harry said, smiling at his girlfriend. She nodded and they went into the living room. Hermione sat on Ron's armrest and Ginny sat on Harry's.

"So, why'd you stay up late?" Hermione asked curiously.

"Oh just chatting to some nice girls," Harry answered casually. Ginny hit him over the head and Harry laughed at her pout. "You know what? If you keep abusing me, I'm going to dump you." Ginny stuck her tongue out at him and hit him over the head again. "I didn't even do anything to deserve that."

"And who were these girls?" Ginny asked in a huff.

"Well, one was a pretty brown-haired girl named Vani. Another was a beautiful bossy girl named Emma. One girl was rather loud, but she had the cutest nose. Her name was Cassandra. And the last one was shy but she was sweet and her name was Anne." Ginny stared at him with her mouth wide open. Ron was about to jump the table to kill the cheating boy, when Hermione started to laugh.

"You do like them young, Harry," she said with a laugh. "Those were four of the five people who stayed for break, right?"

"Yeah, and they weren't nearly as beautiful or bossy as my Ginevra," Harry said, hugging the girl in question; she just hit him over the head again for using her full name. "The boy, Chris, was a first year and he was pretty nice. He was having problems with Wingardium Leviosa though."

Ron and Hermione started laughing, but Ginny gave them an odd look. Ron proceeded to tell them the story and she laughed too.

"I must say that I told it better," Harry said as Ginny captured Ron's knight.

Ron spit out the hot chocolate he'd just drunk and stared at Harry. "You told them that story?"

"Yep and a few others," he said absently. "Your wonderful dress robes and baby Norbert. There are others, I just don't remember which ones."

"You told them about my dress robes?" Ron asked incredulous. He moved his other knight.

"Yeah and Charlotte got a kick out of that one," Harry said as he moved one of his pawns to capture Ron's last knight. "Where's Sephra?"

"Blaise and Edlyn where at school, so she wanted to stay with them," Ginny answered him. "Which was fine with me, 'cause my room was packed with Hermione, Tonks, her, and me in it."

"Yeah, well, at least you have your room," Ron said complaining. "Hermione's parents kicked me out of mine."

"And what's wrong with that?" Hermione said in a huff. "They needed a place to stay and you were the only person not sharing a room already." Harry laughed as Ron tried to calm her down.

"Was Sephra alright?" Harry asked Ginny quietly.

"Yeah, she only had surface wounds," she informed him. "It looked worse than it actually was. That's why she went to Hogsmeade with us the next day."

"Are Hermione's parents still here?" Harry asked softly, smiling at his fighting friends. He could tell that they were actually flirting in their own special way.

"Yeah," she told him. "They cancelled their plans, saying that Hermione's best friend was in the hospital with serious injuries. You were in a car crash on Friday." Harry smiled at her. "They'll stay for Christmas and a few days after that, but they need to get back to work." Harry nodded and held Ginny's hand, glad to be back with his friends.

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They spent the afternoon playing chess, and watching the snowstorm that had started soon after Harry had arrived. Everyone was sitting in the living room after supper, talking in small groups.

"So, Harry, what's this extra training Ginny was telling us about?" Ron asked after awhile.

"I'm going to learn from some friends of Thia's," Harry replied quietly. "Dumbledore and I agreed that I needed more training."

"You don't have any free time as it is, Harry," Hermione said worriedly. "How are you going to fit in more training?"

"I'm dropping some classes," he told them.

"You're dropping classes?" Hermione asked loudly and frantically. Everyone turned to look at them and Harry just about hit her. Sometimes she had such a loud mouth. Harry knew he was in for it.

"Why are you dropping classes?" Mrs. Weasley asked in a motherly-I-think-you-aren't-thinking-about-your-future tone of voice. Harry glanced at Thia, but she just shrugged; something her brother noticed.

"And what did you have to do with it, Synthia?" Remus asked her in a brotherly-I-think-you-stuck-your-nose-in-where-it-doesn't-belong tone of voice. Harry hoped that Dumbledore wouldn't mind him telling everyone, because he was going to anyway.

"Because I needed room in my schedule for more Defense Against the Dark Arts training," Harry answered semi-truthfully. He didn't think healing counted as Defense, but that was his purpose for learning it.

"And what does Synthia have to do with this?" Remus asked angrily. Harry had never heard him call her that once, let alone twice.

"Bugger off, Remus," she said just as angrily. "You have no right to be angry about this."

"I think I do, Synthia," Remus said shortly.

"Don't call me 'Synthia,'" she yelled at him. "Only mum got away with that and the last time I checked she was dead and you aren't her!" Remus looked at her angrily for a second longer before her words sunk in.

"Don't you dare use that excuse, Thia," he said quietly, trying to control his temper. "Don't you dare." There was a long staring contest as everyone else sat embarrassed by the topic of the fight.

"And why not, Remus John Lupin? She was my mum too and I have never let you or dad or Lily or Sirius or any teacher call me that willingly," she said in a quiet dangerous tone. Remus looked at her angrily and then he noticed everyone for what seemed like the first time.

"Not now, Thia," he said quietly. "Not now."

"And why not now, Remus?" she yelled at him. Harry knew that Remus was in trouble. "You're the one who made a big deal about it in front of everyone. You're the one who called my Synthia." She walked up to him and stopped right in front of him. She was several inches shorter, but she had spent all of her adult life fighting against the Dark Arts and had a presence about her.

"You want to have this fight now?" he asked not stepping down. "Fine! We'll have it now! We'll embarrass the shit out of everyone, but if it'll make you happy, Synthia, then we'll talk about it now!" Thia didn't step down and everyone wished at that moment that they were anywhere but in this room with the two very dangerous fighting siblings. Harry wanted to leave, but Thia and Remus were standing right in front of the door, so he couldn't. "But then let's bring up where you've been the past fifteen years and what happened to the child!"

Harry watched as Thia visibly shrank back from him for a moment. What child? Then she steeled her resolve and shouted back at him. "I've told you that I can't answer that question! Dumbledore would just about kill me if I did! I took that assignment saying that I'd never tell another living soul. And that basically meant you, Remus, since. Seeing that Sirius was in Azkaban, Lily was dead, Sam was dead, James was dead, and Peter was a filthy traitor. I made that promise and I'm not breaking it!" She stopped and glanced around the room. "As for the child." She stopped and her body was racked by a sob. "It died that November, right before I went undercover," she answered quietly. She paused for a second and started yelling again. "But that's not the point of this conversation, Remus, and you know it!"

Remus stood opposite her completely stunned. Finally he opened his mouth and asked her, "And what is this about?"

She shook her head and just about hit him. Harry didn't think anyone else noticed that, but he had been training with her for four months now and saw the faint twitch of her shoulder. Remus noticed it and backed away from her. Harry knew she was about to blow a fuse, so he got up and stepped in front of her.

"Thia, get some control," Harry said calmly. "He didn't mean to make you angry." She looked at Harry and then took a deep breath. She held it and then let it go slowly. "Ok, I think that's enough of this conversation," Harry told them both. "I'm not sure what just happened, but you guys are adults and should act that way once in a while." Thia smiled at him weakly, as did Remus. "Ok, all better? Good."

Harry took his seat by Ginny and looked around at everyone. "I'm pretty sure this conversation was grilling me on why I dropped two classes."

"You dropped two," Hermione scolded him.

"And I'm picking up three, so I think it's a pretty fair trade," Harry said with a shrug.

"Potions and what other class?" Ron asked. "I wished I could drop Potions."

"I didn't drop Potions," Harry said softly. "It's not so bad this year, what with Snape ignoring every Gryffindor. And I'm hoping to see Malfoy lose some points."

"Never will happen," Ron said in disbelief.

"I'm not so sure," Harry told him logically. "Snape doesn't have to kiss up to the Malfoy's any more. Did you know that Draco got an A on his potions O.W.L.'s?"

"And how do you know that?" Mrs. Weasley asked sternly.

"I'm not giving out my sources," Harry said carefully. "I worked hard getting them." Mrs. Weasley stared at him for a second longer, but relented.

"So, what classes are you dropping?" Fred asked after a short pause.

"Herbology and Charms," Harry answered quickly.

"And what classes are you going to take, exactly, and who is going to teach you?" Remus asked, his voice still sounding angry. Harry noticed that Thia also picked up on it, so he watched them both warily.

"A healing class, a class from a Spell Master, and a..." he stammered, thinking as he paused, This ain't magic.

"And a physical trainer," Thia answered for him. "They're people I know from around and we're hoping that they'll be willing to train Harry for us."

"But why would he need training?" the unfamiliar voice of Mrs. Granger asked. Harry winced visibly. The only ones who understood why were Remus, Thia, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny. Everyone, though, saw the wince and the look of hopelessness pass over his face. After a quick second it was gone from his face, but it took Ginny squeezing his hand to bring his mind from the Prophecy.

Harry looked at Remus and Thia. He wanted to tell these people, but he didn't know if he should. Thia looked spit between the two options and Remus looked worried. "Because," Harry finally replied evasively.

"Because why, Harry?" Tonks added sternly. He was surprised by her tone of voice and almost told them about the Prophecy.

"No," he said, shaking his head. "I can't say, not without talking to Professor Dumbledore first." Remus swore loudly, and everyone except Tonks and Thia looked at him surprised. Harry had never heard Remus swear before.

"I'm sick of Dumbledore and his secrets!" he yelled. "He makes best friends and family members keep secrets from those they love! I'm sick and tired of it. Sometimes I just want to wash my hands of him and leave! But I can't not fight; I've got to do something!" Tonks walked over to him and put a calming hand on his arm. He sighed deeply and shook his head. "I'm sorry," he said quietly.

"Don't worry," Harry said quietly. "There are more than a few times when I feel the same way." The two men looked at each other and understood each other perfectly.

"Should I?" Harry asked quietly.

"Why not?" Remus replied just as quietly. "It's your secret, your battle, your war."

"What are you talking about?" Fred muttered angrily.

"Stop speaking in riddles!" George yelled exasperated.

"But that's the problem," Harry said. "It is a riddle of sorts. A very important riddle that we have figured out except for the most important part."

"Harry, just tell them," Ginny chided him. "That is if you are going to. If not, I'd run and not stop running because the twins look murderous." Harry smiled at her.

"But they can't actually kill me," he told her logically. "And either must die at the hand of the other. They can beat me 'til I'm millimeters from death, but they can't actually kill me."

"Harry," Hermione said sadly, "that is the most pessimistic thing I've ever heard."

"But it's true and you can't deny it," Harry told her. She tried to stare him down, but she had to admit it was and that she had thought of it a long time ago.

"How long have you known that?" Remus asked him.

"Um," he counted the months out on his fingers. "About six months now. I figured it out when I was at the Dursley's." Remus looked at him sorrowfully and shook his head.

"You know what I hate most about this?" Fred asked turning to George.

"No, what?" George asked mockingly.

"That, while they all know," he replied, motioning vaguely at the room, "and this conversation makes sense to them, it makes no sense to us, because we have no idea what they're talking about."

"You know now that you---"

"The one with the power," Harry said interrupting them with a tired voice, "to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies... and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have the power the Dark Lord knows not... and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives... The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies." There was complete silence when he was finished. Ginny hugged him closer and Harry leaned into the embrace, hoping for the strength to look at his adopted family.

"I didn't know that there was more to that," Mr. Weasley finally said. Harry looked at him surprised and then looked at Remus and Thia for an explanation.

"Dumbledore told everyone the little Voldemort knew before your fifth year," Remus said quietly. "That way everyone understood what they were protecting. I guess he didn't make it clear enough that there was more." Harry laughed bitterly and then blushed.

"Sorry," he mumbled. "I'm going to bed." He got up and left the room silently. He managed to get to up the first three steps before they responded to his exit.

"Harry James Potter, get yourself back in this room this very moment," Molly Weasley's voice screeched at him. He almost continued walking, but he considered her as a second mum and so he couldn't ignore her like that. He turned around and stood by the door. Everyone could tell he was ready to flee the moment he felt like it. "How long have you known that?"

"Since the Ministry fiasco," he answered, his voice filled with sorrow as he remembered that night.

"He told you that right after Sirius died?" Charlie asked surprised.

"Yeah, well, I would have rather heard it sooner, but, you know, what can you change?" Harry said bitterly. "I'm glad he told me then, because if he hadn't he would have come up with one more reason not to."

"That's what had you down all summer," Tonks said thoughtfully, "and why you were angry at Dumbledore." Harry nodded. "Well, I'd have blown things up if I had been you." Harry looked at his shoes embarrassed. "You did, didn't you?"

"Well, I didn't blow things up exactly," Harry said slowly. "But I did manage to trash his office." Tonks smiled and Harry felt a little better. "Look, I'd rather not talk about that part. I've forgiven Dumbledore for it and talking about it only brings the bitterness back."

"You called it a riddle," Bill reminded him. "Why?"

"But he will have the power the Dark Lord knows not." Harry repeated. "That's the riddle. What the hell does Voldemort not know?"

"Harry Potter, do not use language like that!" Mrs. Weasley scolded him.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Weasley," Harry said. "He did know of the magic my mum used to save me the first time around, but he didn't think of it at the time. I can't figure out what this power is."

"And either must die," Fred repeated softly, "at the hand of the other..."

"...for neither can live while the other survives," Harry finished for him. "Yeah, that's the part that particularly sucks about it."

Harry glanced around the room. Ginny was perched at the edge of the sofa ready to leap up and hug him. Ron was holding Hermione close to him, not letting her go. Mr. Weasley looked proudly at Harry; Harry couldn't figure out why he was so proud. Mrs. Wesley was shocked and couldn't get her mouth working. Both Grangers seemed at a loss; Harry didn't blame them, he was too when he first heard. Harry had never seen the twins more somber or serious; he wished he never had to again. Bill looked thoughtful and Harry guessed he was trying to figure the riddle out; he liked that kind of thing. Charlie was looking from Ginny to Harry back and forth quickly; Harry knew that he was thinking of the danger Ginny was in as his girlfriend. Tonks had sat down hard next to Remus and was staring at Harry in disbelief; she had let her looks change back to those she had been born with. Remus held on to her, but watched Harry carefully. Thia was the closest to him, but she wasn't looking at him; they had talked about this the most and she knew just about everything he thought about it.

"And you just accept it?" Mr. Granger finally asked. "Just because someone gave that prophecy, you believe it?" Harry looked at the man he hardly knew. He had just asked Harry one of the questions Thia didn't know the answer to and one Harry had hardly answered to himself. He thought about the answer carefully before he gave it.

Everyone watched as the boy before them thought about that question. The saddest thing was that none of them was thinking of him as a boy, but as a man. He looked like one and held himself like one. First a look of confusion passed over his face. He brushed his hair back with his hand and when they could see his face again the look was replaced with one of sorrow. Shortly a look of longing filled his eyes. It was quickly removed by a look of hope and then one of determination.

"I accept it not because Trelawney gave it," Harry finally answered. "But because I'm willing to make it happen." He stopped looking for the words he wanted. "I never had," he started but broke off. He had to calm himself down before he could continue.

"I never had," he started again, closing his eyes so he didn't need to see the looks he knew he would get, "the greatest of childhoods. I never had it all before. I'm used to waking up in the morning, hoping for more and getting nothing. I met Ron and Hermione and for years I've listened to them talk about their parents and their childhoods and I've always wanted one just like it. But I never got that chance because Voldemort killed my parents." He stopped and took a slow, shuddering breath.

"I decided back in September that I'd fight him," Harry said finishing his answer. "Not to get revenge, because that's a stupid reason. I decided that I'd fight for everyone who had never been affected by war or murder or Voldemort, so they'd never have to experience it." He opened his eyes and they were surprised at the amount of hope in them. "So that if someday I have a family, my kids won't have to grow up fearing Voldemort. I'm going to fight and I'm going to learn as much as I can so that I can win it in the end. I'll do it so that my kids and Ron's and Hermione's and everyone else's kids can have the childhood I've wanted all my life." Harry turned and walked slowly up to the twins' room were he was sleeping. He barely made it up three stairs when Ginny attached herself to him, crying her eyes out. Mrs. Weasley and Hermione joined her soon after.

Harry let them cry, but all he wanted to do at the moment was sleep. The time passed and Harry knew he had to do something because Hermione had latched herself to his left side and his burn was in excruciating pain.

"Why is it that I always make the girls cry?" Harry asked the watching guys. They laughed and the three women let go of him. Harry lifted his arm up and saw blood on the bandage.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Harry," Hermione said, starting to cry again.

"Don't be, Hermione," he said quietly. "You're not the person who should be. The person who should will never feel pity, ever." He turned to walk up the stairs to bed.

"Mr. Potter," Mrs. Weasley said sternly through the last of her tears. "That bandage needs to be changed before you go to bed." Harry nodded and followed her into the kitchen. He sat patiently as she fussed over him and then walked down the hall. He tried to ignore the looks most of them gave him, but it didn't work.

"Look, I didn't tell you guys that so you'd be sorry for me," he said angrily. "Just back off and stop pitying me." They looked at him with surprise and then quickly looked away, feeling uncomfortable. As Harry walked back up the first three stairs he heard his name being called.

"Harry," Mr. Weasley said again. Harry turned and looked at one of the few people whose face didn't show pity. "I'm glad you're the one to fulfill that Prophecy, because you'll do it right." Harry looked letting some surprise show on his face before he smiled.

"Thanks Mr. Weasley," Harry replied from the bottom of his heart.

"I meant what I told Vol-Voldemort back in September," he told Harry solemnly. "I meant every word." Harry nodded in understanding and turned back up the stairs.

Once in the room he quickly changed into pajamas. He slid under the covers of the bed he was to use and let out a sigh. He didn't know if he should have told them, but now that he had, he was glad. It was a weight off his shoulders. He wondered what it would be like if the whole world knew about it.

He shook his head. No, he didn't want that. Not yet at least. Maybe in a couple months or when Voldemort found out about it. He sure hoped that he could back up what he had just said. He wanted to live and he wanted that family. He shut his eyes, hoping once again for a dreamless sleep, but expecting the worst because that's the way his life went.

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"Are you willing to do everything and anything your Lord commands?" Lucius' impressive figure asked a bowing form. Lucius was the only recognizable face; the other faces surrounding him were covered with masks. A smaller figure in black robes was bowing in front of Lucius. He had his forehead touching the ground and Harry could only see the top of his head, gleaming whitely in the faint light.

"I am more than will to do everything and anything that my Lord commands," Draco's sneering voice replied.

"Are you willing to give your life to eradicate all mudbloods, their sympathizers, and muggles?" Lucius asked solemnly.

"I am willing to carry out the noble work of the Dark Lord at any cost, including my life." Harry felt Voldemort's satisfaction with Draco's oaths of fidelity.

"Are you willing to kill, torture, and devastate any and all of your Lord's enemies?" The room they were in was large and very dark. Harry seemed to be on some platform of sorts and was lounging carelessly in a throne-like chair.

"I am willing to kill, torture, and devastate all of my Lord's enemies," Draco replied earnestly. Harry couldn't believe that Draco was taking this oath already. He wasn't even an adult yet.

"Step forward to take the final oath," Lucius instructed him. Voldemort stood and Draco shuffled forward on his knees. Harry saw the slight fear in Draco's eyes, but he was keeping himself under control. Voldemort grabbed the boy's left arm and pulled him up roughly.

"Do you swear on pain of death, to loyally and completely serve, obey, and please me?" Voldemort asked the boy roughly.

"I swear on pain of death to loyally and completely serve, obey, and please you, my Lord," Draco answered with the slightest of tremble in his voice.

"Look me in the eye, boy." Draco looked up into Voldemort's red eyes. "Legilimens!" Harry watched as Voldemort plucked through Draco's mind. Harry was surprised to see how much hate and jealousy the boy felt for him. On the outside it seemed that Draco had the better life, but the boy was actually jealous of Harry. Harry also couldn't help but notice how organized it was compared to Wormtail's. Harry wondered if Draco knew Occlumency.

"Very well," Voldemort said, dropping the boy. "I will allow you to have some fun with Mr. Potter when he visits us. Give me your arm, Draco Malfoy," Voldemort finished ceremoniously.

Draco raised his arm and Voldemort pressed his wand to his bare white forearm. "Morsmordre!" Harry winced in pain as Draco screamed in agony. The smell of burnt flesh rose to Harry's nostrils and made him feel ill. Harry was also sickened by the joy Voldemort felt at causing this pain, even in so loyal a follower.

When Draco stopped screaming, Voldemort removed his wand and turned to face the assembled Death Eaters. "We have a new brother, my faithful Death Eaters. Please welcome him." There was a brief pause as a few mumbled a hello to the boy. "Bring the child out," Voldemort commanded. They dragged a young girl out, no more than seven in age. Harry felt his stomach heave as he looked at her face. There was no skin covering it; he could plainly see the muscle tissue beneath it.

"I have been told that you have been instructed in the three golden spells," Voldemort expressed to Draco. "I would like you to show me your abilities with them." Draco nodded and strode forward to the girl. "Start with the Imperius and then the Cruciatus. Finish with Avada Kedavra."

Draco nodded. "Imperio!" Harry watched as the girl twisted her body into gross contortions. She was tying herself into a knot. There was coarse laughter from those watching and Harry wished he could see Draco's face.

"Very good," Voldemort said finally.

"Crucio!" The girl, still tied up, fell to the ground writhing in agony. Harry could tell the position of her limbs was causing more pain for her. Harry winced inside Voldemort's mind when he heard several sickening pops as her joints gave out. The time seemed to last an eternity, but Harry knew it couldn't have been more than a few minutes.

"Very good," Voldemort finally said. Harry could feel his glee and pride in the boy. "Kill her." Draco nodded and raised his wand. Harry heard the most unforgivable of words leave his mouth.

"Avada Kedavra!" The girl stopped twitching the second the green light hit her body.

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"Nooooooooooooooooo!" Harry screamed, sitting up in his bed. He heard footsteps on the stairs and in rushed everybody that could fit. Ron, Hermione, and Ginny were the first ones in, followed closely by Remus and Thia. Harry tried to calm his breathing down and warm up; he was soaked in cold sweat.

"What's the matter, Harry?" Ron asked worriedly by his side. Ginny had sat on his bed and was stroking his hair, trying to calm him. Hermione sat at the foot of it and looked at him with loving worry.

"You get one guess," Harry said shakily.

"Voldemort," Ginny answered knowingly. Harry nodded. "What did you see this time?" she asked, just as she always did. Ron and Hermione were surprised when all Harry did was sigh and lie back down. Had either of them asked, they were sure Harry would have erupted.

"I'm not telling anyone the first part," Harry said softly, looking Ginny in the eyes pleading with her to understand. She nodded. "But Voldemort had one of his Death Eaters," he said giving himself a slight shake; he still couldn't believe Draco had taken the Mark, "control, torture, and kill a little girl to prove their competency with the three Unforgivables." That little girl hadn't stood a chance and Draco had just killed her. He didn't just kill her but terrify the girl and torture her as well.

"Why do children's deaths affect you so much?" Remus asked cautiously. Harry thought about it slowly. Why did they?

"Because they don't stand a chance," Harry answered. "Because they aren't a threat. Because they more than likely didn't choose to fight in this war, they just got caught in the middle. I don't even think that girl was magical," he said thinking about her. "She was wearing what was definitely a muggle nightgown."

"How do you know that?" Hermione asked curiously.

"It had a Barbie on it," Harry replied. Hermione nodded, while the magical folks gave them confused looks. "That's a Muggle doll," Harry told them. "What time is it?"

"Eleven," Ginny answered. Harry fought back the urge to swear. He had gone to bed less than thirty minutes ago. It had seemed like hours.

"I'm going back to sleep," Harry finally said. Everyone heard the dismissal in his voice and they left. Before she exited the room, Ginny gave him one last look of loving support.

Harry spent the rest of the night turning and tossing. He wanted to ask Ron to hit him over the head and knock him out, but he didn't want to wake him. He couldn't shake the nightmares this night and knew better than to get up early this morning. He'd wait until Ron woke before getting up, so he wouldn't arouse suspicion or worry. That should be earlier than normal, because Ron could never wait long to open gifts.