Harry Potter and the Rise of the Phoenix

Chapter Thirty ~ Deserves Our Pity

* * * *
So, Brown Eyes,
I'll hold you near
'Cause you're the only song
I want to hear,
A melody softly soaring
through my atmosphere.

Death Cab for Cutie ~ Where Soul Meets Body
* * * * * * * *

The seventh year boys of Gryffindor House made their slow, sleepy, sluggish way to the Great Hall the next morning. Dean only had ten minutes to eat before he had to go to the pitch to set-up the sound spells. The rest of them had thirty minutes until breakfast ended and forty minutes until the start of the game. To say the least, no one was very cheerful.

"You had to go and get engaged the one Friday night we couldn't sleep in 'til one the next day," Dean grumbled under his breath at Ron.

"It's not that I'm not happy for you, mate," Harry said around a yawn, clapping Ron on the back, "but better timing would be appreciated next time."

"Though, there shouldn't be a next time, should there?" Neville stated as they entered the babbling, bubbling, chattering Great Hall.

"Ugh," Seamus groaned pitifully.

"There's the wedding," Harry said. Neville laughed and searched the Hall. Spotting who he was looking for, he waved farewell. "Later, Neville. Just remember, Gryffindor wants Ravenclaw to win. Go ahead and cheer for Luna's team." Neville laughed and went to sit next to his girlfriend at the Ravenclaw table.

"You boys alright?" Sephra asked, stepping into the Great Hall with the other members of the Slytherin team. Harry mentally shook his head, thinking how odd that the Slytherin Quidditch Captain was asking the Gryffindor Captain and Keeper if they were alright. Things sure had changed in the last two years.

"If considering murdering one of your roommates is alright, then yes, we are," Seamus answered sarcastically.

"What's going on around Ginny and Hermione?" Lavena Atwater, a Slytherin chaser, asked. Everyone turned to look down the Gryffindor table and Harry grinned at seeing a bunch of girls surrounding Hermione. The three Gryffindor guys all looked at Ron, who, Harry felt, was the only one who should explain.

"Well, see, I... um..." Ron stuttered, his ears turned a bright crimson color.

"Sephra!" Hermione shouted, earning her looks of disapproval from the professors sitting at the head table. "Come look at my ring!" Sephra hurried off, noticing the excited tone in Hermione's voice. Once Sephra reached the gaggle of girls, she, Hermione, and Ginny started talking nineteen to the dozen.

"What's so special about a ring?" Blaise asked, watching as Sephra threw her arms around Hermione in a huge hug.

"Well, it is an engagement ring," Dean said dryly, trying, but failing not to glare at Ron.

"Weasel asked Mudblood Granger to marry him?" Pansy asked shrilly, causing most everyone nearby to turn and look at their two groups. "Well, there goes that pureblood line."

"That'll be ten points for your language, Miss Parkinson," Bill's voice came from the doorway. "Ten more points for calling a fellow student that name. And a detention for insulting the non-pureblood population of the school. Go eat your breakfast before you lose more." Pansy and her crowd left to sit in their normal seats at the end of the Slytherin table, glaring back at Bill dangerously. "You all should head to your respective tables as well."

"Yes, sir," Blaise said politely. "Why don't you all go sit at the Slytherin table. I have a feeling Sephra isn't leaving the Gryffindor table until it's time to head down." The other members of the Quidditch team nodded and left to eat.

"Oh..." Dean checked his watch. "You had to pick last night, didn't you?" he asked once more before running forward to grab some toast. He rushed past them and out the front doors.

"So, why exactly are you all mad at Ron?" Blaise asked as they made their way to the table, on the other side of the mass that was Hermione's circle of congratulations. "And by the by, congratulations on the engagement, Ron."

"Not exactly mad at him... just about the timing," Harry explained. "This is the only Saturday in the month we couldn't sleep in 'til one to recover from the party we threw to celebrate."

"How late were you all up?" Blaise asked with an eyebrow raised. Harry noticed Snape start his way over to the group of excitedly shouting, giggling uproarious girls, but McGonagall pulled him back and shook her head. Bill reached them and explained to all the professors what the cause was.

"Let's see, Bill came in at about three," Harry answered, grabbing a jug of pumpkin juice. "But he just joined the party. I mean, it's his little brother after all."

"And McGonagall at about four," Seamus finished, snagging the plate of eggs going by.

"Took about an hour to get everything straightened up," Ron said, chewing thoughtfully. "So, we were in bed at about five-ish. I don't think I ever fell asleep."

"So, when's the date?" Blaise asked smoothly, watching Ron out of the corner of his eye. Ron swallowed convulsively and blanched. Harry just laughed.

"It's much too soon to pick one," Ginny answered, having heard the question even over the group behind her. "Unless, of course, there's a reason Hermione won't tell us how you asked her." Ginny lifted a suggestive eyebrow at her brother, but all the guys looked back at her clueless. She rolled her eyes and explained. "Mum going to find out that not only will she have two daughters-in-law, but also a new grandbaby?"

Ron went even paler, though it seemed that all that blood had rushed to his ears in embarrassment. "No! Not at all!"

"Twins then?" Harry asked, taking a piece of bacon from Ron's plate while he was so distracted.

"No!"

"Surely not triplets," Seamus teased. Ron's mouth did the fish thing, open closed open closed.

"Maybe it's quadruplets," Blaise said, breaking his scone into small bits as he ate it. The rest of the meal was devoted to making Ron as uncomfortable as possible. Soon Blaise and Sephra left with their team and everyone else meandered their way down to the Quidditch stadium.

Hermione made them all leave Ron be, saying that if they were so sure that she was pregnant, she would like to know where she had been when the child or children had been conceived. This shut them up and they climbed the stairs to get the best seats while talking about plans for the summer after they graduated. Harry wasn't surprised that no one had very definite plans. The most definite plans were Seamus and Ron's who both knew they'd be starting the testing for the double-A, as long as they got in. Both young men were waiting to see if their applications had been accepted.

"Not much else we can plan, without knowing what's going to happen between now and then, is there?" Seamus asked, sitting in his seat. Lavender nodded in agreement.

"What about you, Harry, what are you doing?" Parvati asked from Lavender's other side.

"Not sure, training, I guess," he answered, looking past Ron, Hermione, Seamus, and Lavender at her. Ginny sat on his other side, and gave the hand she held a slight squeeze. "Unless, of course, this bloody war is over, but if it is then I really have no idea."

"Not going into the double-A with us?" Seamus asked, surprised.

"No, I've had my fill of fighting and vanquishing Dark Lords, thank you very much," Harry answered honestly. "I'd like to make my own choice."

"What about you, Hermione?" Seamus asked.

"I've had a few offers from different departments at the Ministry," she answered. "International Cooperation, Misuse of Muggle Artifacts, Law Enforcement, Minster's office, Games and Sports, ironically, and the Department of Mysteries. And a few law firms have asked if I'd be interested in working for them as well."

"That's some impressive list," Padma said from her sister's other side. "You applied to all of those departments?"

"Oh, no, just the Department of Muggle Relations and a law firm," Hermione answered. "I haven't heard from either of them, actually. All the rest contacted me on their own." Seamus let out an impressed whistle and Ron grinned down at her proudly. Harry shook his head and kissed the top of Ginny's head.

"What's that for?" she whispered, ignoring the others.

"Cause I can," he answered. "Do I need any more of a reason?"

"No," she answered, chastely kissing his lips in return. "We'll have to figure out a career for you, luv."

"We've got time, though I'm all for the stay-at-home dad position" he answered honestly, freeing her hand and wrapping that arm around her shoulders instead. "So, do you know why Hermione won't tell us how he asked?"

"Not sure, probably didn't hold up to her romantic standards," Ginny answered with a laugh. "As straight-laced as she pretends to be, she's a worse romantic than me!"

"I find that hard to believe," Harry teased back, brushing a free whisp of auburn hair behind her ear. Ginny smiled up at him and Harry found himself lost in the deep milk-chocolate richness of her eyes. "Then again, it is Hermione, I should believe anything about her." He gulped nervously as Ginny laughed, amused by his nervous tone. "How's Charlie--" he gulped again, Ginny had closed the gap between them a tad bit more. "How's--" Their lips were millimeters from meeting.

"Hey! No PDA!" Ron said, hitting Harry's shoulder roughly, surprising them apart. "Public Displays of Affection are not allowed! Especially when a brother is around! I'll grant you the right to hold her hand and put an arm around her, but on no account can there be kissing!" Ginny glared at her older brother and pulled Harry into a kiss. When they broke, Harry rolled his eyes at her.

"I thought I told you that you can't kiss me just to prove a point to your brothers," he mock-scolded her.

"I didn't feel you pulling away," she answered, her back straight, and her head held high, looking forwards and defiantly not at her brother. Harry turned to his best mate and shrugged.

"If you kill anyone, it's her," Harry said defensively at Ron's scowl. "She's the one who's defying you."

"Didn't see you pulling away," Ron answered, repeating his sister.

"Yeah, well, I'm not going to push my girlfriend away if she wants to kiss me," Harry answered dryly. "I may be the only hope wizarding Britain has of winning this damn war, but I'm also a teenage male. Get over it." Before Ron could reply, Dean's voice cut across all conversation.

"Your attention please," Dean said, his voice magically amplified by the megaphone in his hands. Harry was surprised that Dean's voice wasn't the normally cheery tone he used for the Quidditch pitch. Surely the night's activities hadn't exhausted him that much. "In a week, the first anniversary of the murder of four families will be upon us. Because this anniversary is quite close to my heart, as my step-father, mother, and half-sisters were all killed in this attack, I feel honor bound to mention it. Seventh year Slytherin chaser, Blaise Zabini lost his mother and father, though he won't thank me for mentioning it. Seventh year Hufflepuff Justin Flinch-Fletchley lost his mother and younger siblings, all muggle and with no understanding of their deaths. Graduate of the past year, former Ravenclaw Cho Chang lost her aunt. Two purebloods and two muggle-born Mudbloods," Dean spat the word viciously. "All four friends of Harry Potter. All four staunch supporters of everything Harry does to piss-off and annoy Voldemort." There were loud cheers and jeers at this, cheers for Harry and jeers for Voldemort. Those who felt otherwise kept their mouths closed; the arrests in November and December had proven that the Aurors were serious about arresting students should the need arise.

"This school recently lost a great man and headmaster," Dean continued once it had quieted down, but this statement caused everyone to fall eerily silent. Harry's head bowed down in sadness and pain. He still hadn't gotten used to the loss he felt when Dumbledore was mentioned. "Everyone has been touched by the loss this War has caused. Whether your family is for or against Voldemort, we all have been scarred. This was a war started when most of our parents were our age or younger and we are the ones paying the heaviest price." Dean's voice trailed off, and he took a deep breath.

"I've come to respect Harry, as many of you have as well," Dean said, his magically amplified voice soft. "I won't go into why, I'm sure there's as many reasons as there are members of his unofficial fan club." Harry scowled at that, he tried not to think of those ladies as much as possible. "He had to watch, through a twist of fate, as each of our families died. And he told us the tale. There's been many nights I've rued asking him. But there is also comfort, knowing that, though my family didn't understand why they died, someone was with them, empathizing, suffering alongside them. A kind heart was with them. For all the nightmares it has caused you, Harry, I am deeply sorry, but I am glad you were able to be there with them as they died for my beliefs."

Dean's voice broke on the word "my" and he fell silent for several moments. Harry looked out over the stands and noticed most everyone either had their heads bowed or were looking at Dean or himself. The two Quidditch teams had lined up on the pitch; all had their heads down, all but Blaise, who had kept his stubbornly held high. Blaise would not let himself mourn his parents' deaths, for they had been Death Eaters and loyal to Voldemort.

"It may sound selfish, but I ask you all to stand and give a moment of silence," Dean finally began once more. "In honor of our families who died, but not only these four, but all families who have died or been touched in some such way."

Harry stood and bent his head once more, watching in the edge of his sight as Blaise finally bowed his head. Sephra reached out and grabbed his hand. Ginny had an arm around Harry's waist, his arm still around her shoulder. As long as Ginny was at his left and Ron and Hermione to his right, he knew his world would go on.

"Also, I ask a favor for a fellow Gryffindor," Dean said after several minutes. "Harry Potter is working his butt off this year to prepare for a fight with Voldemort. Though he pretends not to let it bother him, having your support means a lot to him. I know many in the Hufflepuff House have been giving him the silent treatment and dark glares. Harry was not responsible, nor has he ever been, for anything Voldemort and his followers do. He survived the attack on his own family long ago only so that he could finish what was prophesized. It is hard, being the last one left, trust me. Please, give him your support. He is not shirking his duty, just making sure he can accomplish it. Thank you." There was loud murmuring at that, and Harry caught Dean's eye and nodded his thanks. Sure, the article had helped, but this... this was amazing.

"Now, LET'S PLAY QUIDDITCH!" Dean's voice switched into his commentator's excited scream as he announced the teams. Those standing in the bleachers sat down or started cheering for their favorite team. Madam Hooch spoke with Sephra and Michael Corner, the captains, and then blew her whistle. The quaffle was tossed and the game was on.

"Lavena Atwater, Slytherin seventh year, with the Quaffle, passes to Blaise Zabini, also seventh year, ohh, that had to hurt! Nice bludger work from Kevin Entwhistle, Ravenclaw seventh year!" There was a long, low whistle from the Ravenclaw supporters. "Third year chaser, Martha Kingsbury with the quaffle--"

"You didn't know, did you?" Ginny yelled in his ear over the noise. Harry shook his head, not trusting his voice to speak. "Dean asked Hermione, Ron, and me about it, asked if you'd kill him if he did. We said no promises, but most likely not." Harry smiled down at her.

"SCORE FOR SLYTHERIN!" Dean shouted. "Michael Corner, seventh year Captain for Ravenclaw, with the quaffle, passes to Kingsbury, who passes to Bradley, who drops it. Too bad, Strickland recovers the quaffle. He zips around Sephra Carrigan who's diving, folks, what does she see? Strickland to Zabini, who's playing chicken with third year Kingsbury. Kingsbury dodges out of his way, OH! Too bad for Stewart Ackerley, fourth year seeker for Ravenclaw. Seems he fell for a Wronski Feint there. He's all right, folks! And that's a SCORE FOR SLYTHERIN!! 20-0 SLYTHERIN!"

"Corner with the quaffle, he drops under Gordon Glaeske's bludger there, and passes to Kingsbury. Zabini playing chicken with the girl again, this time, Kingsbury passes the quaffle at the last moment to Bradley and collides with Zabini. OH! She almost lost her seat there."

"You mad?" Ginny asked, bringing Harry's attention back to her.

"No, just grateful," Harry finally answered, looking down at her. "I've got some great friends. I'm luckier than I knew."

"I think you know just how lucky you are," Ginny answered enigmatically, her eyes on the game in front of them. "THAT'S A FOUL!"

"No foul called for that cob," Dean said sadly. "Corner's going to feel that elbow in the morning! Dobbs with the quaffle for--"

"Should I be jealous?" Harry asked as Ginny continued to rant on Michael Corner's behalf.

"Don't be stupid!" Ginny shouted, not breaking her stride to answer. "I just want Slytherin to lose so we're better seated."

"Sure," Harry said dryly.

"Oh, don't get jealous," Ginny said, stopping her rant and looking up at him. "Michael and I are old news."

"So are Cho and I," he countered.

"Yeah, but she treated you horribly," Ginny replied. "COME ON MARTHA!"

"RAVENCLAW'S KINGSBURY SCORES! 20-10, SLYTHERIN!" Dean shouted. "SCRIVEN CHOSE THE WRONG GOAL THERE, FOLKS! Zabini with the quaffle, passes to--intercepted by Corner! Corner to Bradley to Kingsbury--LONG PASS BACK TO CORNER! SCORE! WE'RE ALL TIED UP!"

"I wish I could have played more in November," Ginny said wistfully.

"We've still got four games," Harry reminded her.

"Yeah, we play every month 'til school lets out except March and June," she replied excitedly. "I can't wait!"

"Hope no one gets hurt," Ron commented.

"No kidding," Harry agreed. "We'll be in quite a position if that happens."

"But it would have to be a really, really serious injury to keep the person out long enough to miss two games," Hermione argued. "Don't worry, no one will get that hurt."

"Don't count your dragons before they hatch," Ron said sagely.

"Let's have none of that," Harry teased. "Norbert was enough for me!"

"YES!" Ginny shouted, jumping up out of her seat.

"CORNER WITH ANOTHER GOAL! 40-30 RAVENCLAW!" Dean shouted. "Zabini with the quaffle, passes to Atwater to Strickland back to Atwater, who swoops around Entwhistle--CHECK OUT THAT BACKHANDED BLUDGER WORK BY ENTWHISTLE!" Again the Ravenclaws let out a long low whistle in celebration. "Kingsbury with the quaffle, past Zabini, out of bludger range, just her and Scriven! She shoots--and--SCORES! 50-30 RAVENCLAW!"

A raven cawed, and Harry saw Luna's raven hat standing out in the crowd. Neville was cheering at her side, hugging her as Ravenclaw scored again. Blaise looked irritated, along with Sephra. Once again just as in the Slytherin/Gryffindor game, the Slytherin beaters, Emma Dobbs and Gordon Glaeske, weren't playing up to par, whereas the Ravenclaw beater Entwhistle was taking charge of the game, disrupting the Slytherin chasers.

"Sloper, Kirke!" Harry shouted at his beaters a few rows down and to his right. They turned and looked up at him. "Watch Entwhistle, he's a great beater!" They nodded and turned back to the game. Harry watched for a few moments as they ignored the game as far as the quaffle was concerned and watched Entwhistle.

"He could be a problem," Ron muttered.

"No, he won't," Ginny said, assured in herself and her fellow chasers.

"No, Ron's right," Harry agreed with his best mate and fellow captain. "I know you can handle him, and Katie did last year, but Kendra and Natalie are young and they got spooked without you. We'll have to practice training with heavy beater coverage," he said, turning to Ron.

"Definitely," Ron said with a nod. "Get them used to it."

"90-30, RAVENCLAW!" Dean shouted as second year Martha Kingsbury scored yet again. "And Zabini with the quaffle, he's keeping it this time, mid-pitch now folks, nice move around--CARRIGAN'S SPOTTED THE SNITCH!" Harry searched the area she was heading towards, and sure enough, there it was.

"Damn, Ackerley's not going to make it!" Ron swore fiercely.

"SHE'S CLOSING IN! TURPIN BLOCKS ZABINI'S SHOT! THERE CARRIGAN GOES TO HER RIGHT! SNITCH IS METERS AWAY! OH NO! SHE'S TAKEN A BLUDGER TO HER HEAD! HOOCH CALLING A TIME-OUT AS CARRIGAN FALLS TO THE GROUND! THAT BLUDGER WAS FROM ENTWHISTLE, LADIES AND GENTS, JUST IN CASE YOU MISSED IT!" The Ravenclaws had enough decency to hold off on their whistle. Madam Hooch was helping a dazed Sephra stand. Harry stood to see over the others who had stood up in front of him. Sephra brushed both Hooch and Blaise off of her and mounted her broom. "Seems she's all right! Back on her broom at least. Ackerley's lucky there, he was no where near! Ravenclaw with the quaffle, Lisa Turpin, their keeper, tosses it to Corner. Corner dives around a grabbing Atwater and zigs around Strickland. Zabini hammering down on him, but Corner passes down and ahead to Kingsbury who shoots straight up--"

"I'm impressed with Kingsbury," Harry said to no one in particular.

"Yeah, she's a fourth year?" Ginny asked.

"No, second," Ron answered. "She's going to be amazing in a few years. She could play pro before graduating if she keeps improving like she has."

"Get off your rocker!" Ginny shouted at her brother. "No way could she play pro before graduating!"

"Mark my words," Ron muttered, though he dropped the subject.

"100-30, RAVENCLAW!" Dean shouted as Richard Bradley scored. "ASSISTED BY MARTHA KINGSBURY! THAT GIRL'S ON FIRE!"

"You watching her moves, Ginny?" Ron asked.

"Of course!" she answered affronted that her brother had to ask. "Are you?"

"Yep," he replied cheerfully.

"Can we not just enjoy this game?" Hermione asked irritably. "Do we have to always connect it with our own future games?"

"Yes!" Harry, Ron, and Ginny answered in unison. Hermione frowned at them, but all it took was Ron whispering something in her ear to make her smile again.

"Hey, I was going to ask earlier," Harry said, pulling Ginny's attention back to him. "How's Charlie doing?"

"He's back in England now, done in Romania," she answered. "I'm not sure if he'll ever go back, his cheating, dung of a girlfriend is the grand-daughter to the Romanian Preserve's director and she'll always be there. He might move to Australia, they've got some nice preserves down there."

"He's recovered?"

"As much as can be expected," she said with a shrug. "Found a new girl, according to Fred. Someone named... Terry, I think."

"That would be the work of Ravenclaw's other beater, Alice Jacques, third year!" Dean informed the crowd. "Zabini's barreling on though, bloody nose and all! Zabini passes it to... Michael Corner? Can Zabini not see because of the blood?"

"I don't care!" Ginny shouted. "DON'T ACT SO SURPRISE AND FLY, CORNER!"

"Corner to Kingsbury back to Corner to Bradley to Corner to Kingsbury who's moving forward to shoot--SCORE! 120-30, RAVENCLAW! WHERE ARE THE SLYTHERIN CHASERS TODAY?" Harry had to agree. Whenever they did have the quaffle, Entwhistle made sure that they didn't keep it or one of the Ravenclaw chasers intercepted a lousy pass. "Zabini looking determined now, looks like he managed to stop that nose bleed. He passes to Atwater who zigs and zags around the Ravenclaw chasers. Atwater to Strickland who's going to take it to shoot. HE SHOOTS AND--NICE SAVE TURPIN! LISA TURPIN PASSES TO KINGSBURY WHO LONG BALLS IT TO CORNER WHO SHOOTS AND--SCORES! RAVENCLAW'S ON FIRE, EVERYONE! SCRIVEN COLLECTS THE QUAFFLE, PASSES TO ZAB--NO! LOOK AT THAT, CORNER WITH THE INTERCEPTION, SHOOTS AGAIN, SCRIVEN ISN'T READY!" Dean took a deep breath before continuing, "So that's 140-30, Ravenclaw, folks!"

"I don't believe this," Ginny said with a shake of her head. "Where is the Slytherin team?"

"They're there," Harry said softly, disbelief having him just as stunned. "Ravenclaw is on fire, as Dean put it. They can't do anything wrong."

"THAT'S 150-30, RAVENCLAW!"

"Almost sad," Ron piped in.

"It is," Seamus said.

"COME ON, BLAISE! KICK IT IN GEAR!" Ginny screamed at the top of her lungs.

"I thought we wanted Ravenclaw to win?" Harry questioned Ginny gently.

"Not like this though!" Ginny yelled, frustrated. "This isn't a match, this is a practice, no, not even that... it's a massacre! Where's the team we played in November?"

"Back in November," Harry said softly. "Be nice, Strickland's parents died over break. And Atwater's parents and brother are being investigated for murder. It was in the paper this morning, though I doubt you read it."

"No, I didn't, not with everything going on with Hermione and Ron," she admitted softly. "And Dean talked with Blaise about this last week, so he knew about the announcement at the start of the game, so it's not like it threw him off."

"How did you read the paper?" Hermione asked, surprised and a bit envious. "I didn't get a chance."

"I woke up early," he said with a shrug. At the look from Ginny he continued, "Just my normal routine. Went for a run, had a bite to eat, read the paper, and then went back up to take a nap."

"So that's why you were dressed," Ron said, his brow furrowed in thought. "I had been wondering, because I remember you changing last night, but then you were dressed and... now I know why."

"Yes, you do," Harry said with a laugh.

"AND RAVENCLAW TAKES A 150 POINT LEAD WITH THAT SCORE! 180-30, RAVENCLAW!"

"Oh, I can't watch," Ginny said, burrowing her head into Harry's shoulder.

"Not even to scout?" Hermione asked brightly.

"Leave it be, Hermione," Ginny said from his shoulder. The trio exchanged grins and turned back to the game.

"ZABINI SCORES BREAKING THE FORTY-FIVE MINUTE DRY STREAK!" Dean shouted. "BUT THERE'S STILL 150 BETWEEN THEM, AT 190-40! OH FOUL!" Ginny looked up, as Hooch blew her whistle. "There it is, witches and wizards, Gordon Glaeske seems to have lost his temper and hit Bradley on the back of his head with the bat. Bradley isn't walking straight there, someone check him out!" In the end, Bradley wasn't allowed to continue playing. Not only was he not walking straight, he couldn't stay seated on his broom and Harry thought he might have been quaking like a duck as they led him off.

"So, Ravenclaw is down a player," Dean said. "Kingsbury moves forward to take Bradley's penalty. She dodges to the left, but it's only a fake and Scriven took it. That makes it 200-40, Ravenclaw."

"Oh, this is nasty," Ginny said faintly.

"And if Ravenclaw catches the snitch on top of this lead--" Ron started but trailed off.

"We'll be in a hole," Seamus finished. "It'll put them ahead of even Hufflepuff and they lost to them by a hundred seventy."

"And we can't have that," Harry said thoughtfully. "That's quite a ways to dig ourselves up from. I hate not having a game in the bag already!"

"Next month," Ron said stubbornly. "We have to win against Hufflepuff."

"They'll be a breeze," Seamus said off-handedly, but Harry shook his head.

"Their seeker, Rose Zeller," he started but stopped as Dean's voice drowned him out.

"CARRIGAN AND ACKERLEY GOING INTO A DIVE! LOOK AT THEM FIGHT IT OUT! CLOSING IN FAST! SNITCH ISN'T MOVING! KINGSBURY SCORES! LOOK AT THAT CHANGE OF DIRECTION! IT'S AS IF THE SEEKERS PRACTICED! 210-40! RAVENCLAW! THEY'RE CLIMBING FAST NOW, LOOK AT THAT SQUABLING AS THEY GET CLOSER! CORNER SCORES! 220--CARRIGAN WITH THE SNITCH! TOO BAD, ACKERLEY! 220-190, RAVENCLAW!"

"Oh, Merlin," Ginny muttered faintly. "Sephra and Blaise are going to be pissed."

"That's an understatement," Harry said bleakly. "At least Sephra got the snitch for us."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As Harry crossed the Entrance Hall the next Monday, he couldn't help but feel the morning had gone exceedingly well. His night had been more peaceful than not, and even those extra few hours of rest had brightened his outlook. Then Bryant had been bearable; since Harry had started the double-A course with Shacklebolt, the morning practice seemed more like a warm-up instead of a heavy work out. Then breakfast had been fun; Seamus, Dean, Neville, and Harry still hadn't tired of teasing Ron about Hermione's silence on how he proposed. (The new theory was that she had asked him, but didn't want anyone else to know.) Office hours had been quite productive due to the few interruptions he'd had.

After that were classes. Transfiguration had been quite a surprise when Harry received his essay back dripping in red ink, but at the very top was an "O" and a note to see Bill sometime about changing the essay into an end of term project. Hermione beamed at him when he showed it to her and Ron just looked a bit envious as he stared at his "A" essay and the note that said "See me" didn't look quite as pleasant as Harry's. After that was Healing with Althea and Ginny. Though the essay he'd gotten back in that class only had an "E" on it, Harry had to feel pleased with himself. It had been awhile since he had pulled off an "E" in that class. Healing was definitely Ginny's thing and not his.

And, now, here he was, walking hand in hand with Ginny, heading for lunch, trying to keep her mind off her Transfiguration exam. Hermione would be a bit tired from an hour spent studying in the library, Ron would be a bit dirty from an hour spent in the greenhouses, and Harry would be more than a bit happy. However, a Monday morning that went this well could only mean one thing: a horrible Monday afternoon. Yet, Harry's afternoon and evening didn't look all that bad. Dueling right after lunch with Remus, Tonks, and, maybe, Thia. She'd been too busy to train with them Saturday after the Quidditch match, but with such a peaceful night, maybe she'd be able to make it. And double-Potions wasn't the chore it had once been, and his first real Legilimency lesson afterwards. Though... that Legilimency lesson might throw a kink in his happy day... he just didn't know.

"Mr. Potter!" Snape's sharp voice called from the top of the staircase leading down to the dungeons. Harry and Ginny stopped and turned to look back as Professor Snape made his way slowly towards them. Severus had gotten in the habit of walking slowly and carefully to cover up the limp that had only gotten worse since the start of term. The stubborn man would not let anyone see his weakness, even if it still wasn't a limp worth much mention.

"Yes, sir?" Harry asked as Severus caught up to them and continued walking on. Harry shook his head at Ginny, who just grinned back, and they fell in next to him.

Not bothering to look at Harry, Severus said, "Have you read that book I gave you?" Instead of looking at his companions, he surveyed the Great Hall, which they had just entered, searching for anything amiss. Harry and Severus had not had a lesson since the Thursday they had had the talk and become "friends" in as much as Severus would have a friend. They had met once, with Madam Pomfrey, when Shacklebolt had sent him to see her the following Saturday. That was when he had confessed to abusing his Pensieve and when Severus had suggested using the stronger sleeping potion. The two lessons last week had been cancelled due to Harry's sleeping issues and in order to give him time to read the little book.

"Yes, sir," Harry answered. "Well, I think I have. It's a strange book. I thought I'd finished it several times, but then the next time I picked it up there'd be another chapter to read or a few more pages in the last chapter. And I can't really remember everything I read."

"You shouldn't," Snape snarled, glaring at a few first years arguing. Harry frowned as well. It was the group of first year Gryffindors and Slytherins that had such a violent reaction to one another. As they got nearer, Harry was surprised to see that the battle line was not drawn up according to house.

"What's going on?" Harry asked, beating Snape to the knot of first years.

"Ralph said any guy who likes Herbology is a pansy," a Gryffindor first year said, pointing to another Gryffindor first year.

"And he's wrong!" a Slytherin boy Harry thought was named Alexander said heatedly. "If anything anyone who thinks stargazing is one!"

"Are not!" Ralph replied. He had to be a fan of Astronomy.

"Enough!" Snape barked. "Those of you who think Herbology is easy should ask Mr. Longbottom of Gryffindor if he'd be willing to show you his scars from working in Greenhouse Thirteen. Three points from each of you." The first years ambled off, grumbling about the mean, nasty Potion's Master.

"At least they got over being enemies according to house," Ginny said softly, trying to lighten the mood.

"Why do they have to fight at all?" Harry asked back. "Professor, was there anything else, or may we go eat?"

"Make sure you bring that book to Potions and then come to my office for your lesson afterwards," Snape replied evenly. "Miss Weasley, I do not think I will be up to an extra lesson with you after supper. I had meant to catch you after class, but as you know... we had a situation. If you'd be willing to cancel, I'd be most thankful."

"Of course, Uncle," she replied. "See you later." Harry walked with her over to the Gryffindor table, and sat next to Hermione. Ron wasn't around yet. "How was studying, Hermione?"

"It was wonderful," the woman replied. "I can't believe we're almost done with Hogwarts! It's exactly four months from today that we start our N.E.W.T.'s and four months, two weeks, four days, one hour, and forty-seven minutes until we graduate!"

"Don't, Hermione!" Parvati wailed, wiping the back of her hand across her eyes. "I'm going to miss this place and all of you, so don't start counting down already. It's like you want to get away from us!"

"No, no," Hermione said quickly, going over and wrapping an arm around Parvati. "Never. I was just commenting how close it is and.... Don't Parvati, please, don't cry!"

"I'm sorry, it's just, you know," Parvati sobbed through her tears. "I shouldn't have started."

"Harry, go get Justin," Ginny said, prodding him in the ribs to get him moving. Harry shied away from the touch. "Tickles?"

"Yeah, that, and Bryant bruised it pretty good this morning," he answered, but hurried down the tables to where Justin was sitting. Parvati and Justin were the newest couple, so, hopefully he'd be able to comfort her. "Hey all," he said sitting down as close to Justin as the empty seats permitted. Several Hufflepuffs said hello cautiously. "Justin, Parvati needs a shoulder to cry on at the moment."

"Why's she crying?" Justin asked, alarmed.

"Oh, nothing horrible, just, Hermione is counting down til the start of N.E.W.T.'s and I guess she started counting down until we graduate," Harry explained, but at Justin's nod of understanding he stopped.

"And Parvati started crying about it almost being over," Justin said knowingly. "Yes, alright, lead me to her." Harry led him right to Parvati, and Justin took over from Hermione, Lavender, and Ginny. By that time, Ron had shown up, though he was covered head to foot in--

"Plant vomit," he was telling his laughing sister. "No kidding. Those plants that can eat your head off? Well, they can vomit it all up again too. I'm going to go take a shower so that Tonks doesn't faint from the smell."

"Don't think I'll be the one fainting," Tonks said, standing right behind him. Harry looked back at her and did a double take. She was a bright Slytherin green, though it didn't seem to be something she had morphed into. Harry didn't even known if she could change her skin color. "Remus is the neat freak."

"Sorry, milady," Ron said apologetically, overcoming his own shock. "Why are you green?"

"Don't ask," she muttered. "Basically, my boss is misusing her powers and getting me back for a prank."

"What prank?" Hermione asked, turning in her seat to face the green Auror.

"Well, see... I kinda... um..." Tonks hedged.

"She decorated the office," Volker yelled from where he sat. "In... well..." Volker trailed off; his laughter had become too hard to contain.

"Somehow she got a hold of embarrassing baby pictures," Shacklebolt said, moving a chair closer to the conversation. He sat on it backwards, his elbows resting on the top. "Plastered everywhere with them: cubicle walls, real walls, the windows, the ceiling, the floor, even the loos and changing room. Everywhere."

"Oh," Ginny said with a slight nod. "Well, why'd you waste such wonderful blackmail? I've got pictures on each of my brothers. Mum holds the originals of course, but I've got copies. Several copies."

"And she destroyed hers," Ron muttered. "Well, I'm going. See you at dueling."

"Later," Harry and the rest called. "You destroyed your cute little baby pictures?" he asked Ginny in baby talk, kissing her nose impishly.

"Every last one, completely by 'accident' mind you," Ginny answered proudly. "I'd gotten copies of the boys' pictures and then 'accidentally' spilt pumpkin juice on mine which just happened to be in a row waiting to be spilt upon. Don't know how it happened." She shrugged innocently.

"Sure you don't," Hermione said, laughing at Ginny's innocent face.

"Glad I don't have any. It's one good thing about my relatives' dislike of admitting I was there," Harry said, taking a drink of his pumpkin juice.

"I wouldn't be so sure," Tonks said brightly. "I found some when I was looking for Thia's. You were a cute little thing." Harry groaned as Tonks fished something from an inside pocket. "I thought Ginny should see them."

"Oh, no, she shouldn't," he said, wrestling with Tonks, trying to get a hold of the pictures. Tonks twisted out of his grip, but Harry tackled her to the ground, pinning her expertly with his body. Reaching up he tried to grab the picture but Tonks' arm kept changing lengths. "Tonks, stop morphing, that isn't fair!" he grunted past clenched teeth. She managed to wriggle out from under him and sprang to her feet.

"Come on, I can take you!" she said, putting up her fists ready for a fight. In her right hand, the pictures were clenched tight. Harry smiled obligingly and started to circle her, looking for an opening. They lunged forward at the same time; only Tonks ducked under his grasp and barreled right into Ginny.

"Here you go, girl, hope you appreciate the hard work I had getting them to you," she panted, sitting up properly. Ginny took the pictures and cooed over the first one. Harry felt his cheeks burn.

"Look at him, playing with his rubber ducky," Ginny said sweetly, showing the picture to Hermione. "Oh, that poor duck! You must have been teething, luv, because you just tried to rip the thing's head off."

"Give me those," Harry said defensively, trying to rip them out of her grip, but Tonks stood up and tackled Harry, pinning him effectively to the ground. "Gerroff!"

"Nope," Tonks said. "And you're not getting free. I've been pinning guys down for years keeping them away from embarrassing baby pictures and those viewing them. Not to mention the occasional bad guy who just won't stay down with an Impediment Charm."

"What are you looking at, Ginny?" Lavender asked, leaning over the table to look. "Oh, is that Harry as a baby? You were such a cutie, even back then, Harry."

"Such a hunk," Parvati said, who had gotten up to look over Ginny's other shoulder, her tears forgotten. Justin was laughing from his seat; Tonks had gotten Harry in a tight neck hold. Ginny changed the picture. "Look at him trying to sweep."

"And, what a wizard kid, using that phone the wrong way," Hermione said as Ginny flipped through the photos.

"Is that Remus?" Ginny asked surprised and Tonks nodded. "He looks so young!"

"Look at the next one," Tonks said. "That's Sirius, Peter, and Remus all fighting over him. James is the mess mop of a head in the corner, Remus says he was laughing his head off, and Lily's the auburn corner trying to save her boy."

"Who's taking it?" Hermione asked.

"Thia," Tonks answered, elbowing Harry in the ribs. He grunted in pain, Tonks was hitting the bruises.

"Glad to know I was so loved," Harry muttered, trying to loosen Tonks' grip. "Explains all my complexes."

"No, all your complexes are your aunt, uncle, and cousin's fault," Ginny said sharply. "They're all trying to get you to play with them. Sirius wants you to play with toy motorcycles, Peter with a stuffed tiger, and Remus with a building block set. They aren't tearing you apart by the limbs."

"Next one," Tonks said brightly.

"Where are the professors?" Harry asked loudly, hoping to enlist some help. "Shouldn't they be stepping in when an Auror is beating up on one of the students?"

"You aren't a normal student," Ginny said wisely. "If you can't get out of that, then you're obviously not ready to face Voldemort."

"I don't want to hurt her," Harry whined. "But if I have to--"

He braced his legs and then jumped up, bringing Tonks up with him, hanging from his neck. Wrapping one arm around her waist, he tickled her side. Tonks immediately let go of his neck and tried to wiggle out of his grip. He swung her up and over his shoulder, keeping her in a fireman's hold.

"Now, kindly hand those pictures to me," he said, holding his free hand out expectantly.

"I think I need to keep these," Ginny said wickedly.

"I think not."

"I think so," she replied and then promptly stuffed them down her shirt.

"And that's going to stop me how exactly? I'm willing to take on all your brothers for those," Harry said with a wicked grin and a twinkle in his eye. "Don't make me go d--"

"What is going on here?" Snape's icy cool voice sounded. It amazed Harry that there were times that he still thought of the Slytherin Head of House as Snape, most often when he was being particularly Snape-ish. Like now.

"This witch, here, sir," Harry started to explain, hefting Tonks onto his shoulder better, "has done the unthinkable and supplied my girlfriend, there," he pointed at Ginny, "with baby photos."

"So you decided that carrying one on your shoulder would get the other to listen to you?" Snape asked neutrally, but one of his eyebrows was raised. Harry thought it might be a suggestion of insanity or stupidity or some combination of both.

"Had to keep Tonks out of the way, and anyways she started the fight," he replied defensively.

"But I didn't see that," Snape replied. "Put the Auror down, Mr. Potter. That'll be fifteen points for your outrageous behavior and a detention. See you this afternoon for your lessons." And he left, carefully keeping his limp hidden. Harry set a laughing Tonks down and glared at both her and Ginny.

"Thanks a lot," he said, sitting down and pulling a ham sandwich closer.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"You had to give me a detention?" Harry asked, as he walked into Severus' office that evening. Dueling and potions had gone quite well, fitting in with the "this day is too good to last" theme he had going. Though, it was lasting. Minus the detention, lunch had been fun and girls kept coming up to him during the afternoon and saying how cute he'd been as a baby. Of course, nothing could top Luna's comment.

"You were so cute as a baby, what happened to you?" she had said at break in her honest, dreamy voice, causing everyone to laugh and Ginny to bristle in his defense.

"I did," Severus said, concentrating on the essay he was grading. After placing a large "P" at the top, Severus put the stopper onto his ink well and placed it, the quill, and the rest of the essays in a drawer. "You were acting immature and so you were punished accordingly."

"Tonks started--"

"I don't care, she's my responsibility no longer," he replied. "Though, green looked quite good on her."

"We never did get to how Thia did that," Harry said thoughtfully.

"Potion," Severus answered carelessly. "She asked me to brew it and I did."

"You helped?" Harry asked incredulously.

"Of course, that's why she's green," Snape replied lazily. "And she had her hair silver. Reminds me of when she wore blue and bronze hair when she was a menace here."

"I bet," Harry nodded, trying to think of Tonks as a student. Deciding that was too horrifying of a topic, he stopped. "So... Legilimency."

"Legilimency," the Slytherin repeated. "You still sure you've read the whole book?"

"Yes," Harry replied, taking the thin book out and flipping to the last page. "I keep checking the end, but it hasn't changed. Why is it like that?"

"It only gives you what you can handle," Severus replied. "Legilimency is a tricky business. Makes many people ill just reading the first pages of the book, though accomplished Occlumens hardly have that reaction. They've had enough experience with such an invasive attack that normally reading the book only makes them stronger and better."

"Know thine enemies," Harry said. "Yeah, there were a few things I picked up on that if I changed my Occlumency shield a tad bit, I'd be better off. Hermione couldn't finish the first page even."

"That surprises me. I had thought Hermione would not be able to keep her hands off it."

"She said it was despicable and she'd rather know nothing about it. She told me good luck with learning it, but not to use it on them. As if I would!"

"Not on purpose, at least," Severus said fairly. "Until you get a good hold on it, you might by accident. Warn them, but they'll know you're in their minds and will most likely distract you enough to end the connection. Breaking eye contact should be all it takes."

"So, I avoid looking any of them in the eye for longer than a second, and we'll be fine," Harry said dryly. Severus smiled a small smile and nodded. Harry suspected it was a serious answer to a sarcastic statement. "So, what now?"

"Ground rules," Severus replied, standing up to stretch out his bad leg. "You are not to practice while anyone else is around, except me of course. You are not to use it, on purpose, on any of your fellow classmates, your professors, or the Aurors. Aurors react badly when their minds are attacked, so beware. If you find yourself accidentally inside someone's mind, get out and apologize. You will not do anything we have not discussed in lessons. You will not do anything new without my presence. Legilimency is dangerous. For an inexperienced Legilimens, it can be deadly."

"Okay, sounds fair," Harry agreed. "But how can I practice with no one around?"

"When we get to that point, I'll teach you," Severus answered. "Now, can you explain how Legilimency works? Do not give me muggle drivel about mind reading."

"No, it's much more subtle than that," Harry replied ruefully. "Unless the victim allows otherwise, only quick glimpses of memories are viewed. To allow it, the victim has to dwell on a particular memory. When most people tell a lie, they think of what really happened, dwelling on it. Unless the Legilimens goes in deeply, they have no control, though the victim doesn't have conscious control either--unless they are an Occlumens."

"Good, good, that is enough for now," Snape said interrupting him. The rest of the hour was spent talking about the theory and learning a basic exercise. By the end, Harry's head was throbbing painfully, but nothing like if Voldemort had been messing with it. Harry had only gotten a normal headache from thinking and working too hard for too long. "Now, about that sleeping draft."

"Yes?" Harry asked, trying not to sound too desperate. Last night's good night's rest had only made him want more.

"I will give you one dose every two weeks, to be used when you feel you need it most," Snape replied sternly. "I developed it once the Dreamless stopped working for my nightmares, and this one is more than a bit addictive. One dose every two weeks is the most I'll give you."

"All right, I'll look at my schedule and see when it's best to take it," Harry replied. Only one dose every two weeks. That wasn't much, but it was something.

"I should also let you know that Poppy has spoken with all your teachers," Snape replied. "The extra ones and the regular ones. She told us to make sure we didn't overwork you." Harry rolled his eyes at the over-protective Matron. "She has due reason to worry, Harry. With the little sleep you get, it's easy to overwork your body." Snape scowled at Harry, "Do not run yourself into the ground; I do not want to lose this war."

"Fine, I'll be careful," Harry replied.

"Also, are you not supposed to be practicing the Theory of Greats with Fawkes?"

"I am," Harry said. "Fawkes shows up every now and then. We run through some exercises, and I get to practice some of the things I read about in the texts Professor Dumbledore recommended."

"I never noticed him missing," Severus said thoughtfully.

"Don't you have lessons during Friday afternoons?" The professor nodded. "Well, that's why. I have those two hours off and Fawkes comes then, normally. He's come a few other times when I've been free. He's a good bird."

"He's a good friend," Severus conceded. They fell silent, each thinking about the bird and the man who had been its last companion.

"I wish Professor Dumbledore was here," Harry said after a few minutes.

"As do I."

"It's not that I doubt our ability without him," Harry said softly. "I would just feel more confident with him at our sides."

"That is how I feel about it," Severus said after a few minutes looking at Harry intently. "But, it is supper time, and I am starving."

"Me too," Harry said, surprised. He hadn't even noticed how hungry he was until Severus had said that.

"Of course you are," Severus muttered as they left the room. "You're a seventeen and a half year old male."

"Too true."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"What are you guys talking about?" Harry asked, once he reached the Ravenclaw table where all his friends had congregated.

"Trying to figure out something to do this Sunday," Dean said softly, his eyes dark with emotion. "You know, to honor our families."

"Or those families your parents killed," Blaise said evenly. Harry knew it had to be hard on Blaise to mourn for parents who stood for something he was so very much against. Harry also knew Blaise hadn't figured out how to do it. He didn't want to mourn for his parents because they were Death Eaters, but he desperately needed to because, in the end, they were still his parents. "We want some type of memorial service, but... we don't want a memorial service. And we don't want it to just be about our parents."

"Anyone who has died," Ginny said softly, a tear falling slowly down her cheek.

"Well, how about lighting candles, like you did in November?" Harry asked, drying that one tear from her cheek. "I'm sure there's a bit of change the prefects have in our budget that we can go buy candles and paper. We'll sell nicer ones for like a sickle to go to a charity and give away cheaper ones for people without money to spare."

"How do you do this?" Seamus asked surprised. "Coming up with a plan only seconds after we ask you for an idea?"

"I've been thinking about it for a week or two," he said with a shrug. "Better to dwell on how to honor the dead than how they died."

"I'll toast to that," Justin said, taking a gulp of pumpkin juice.

"Sounds like a good idea to me," Lavender said. "I like the charity part. Any ideas?"

"There's a fund to help the survivors of Death Eater attacks," Harry answered. "Last fall the Weird Sisters actually had a benefit concert for it... but... I'm sure you all remember what happened during that." There were nods around the table. "I was going to bring it up during the prefect meeting tonight, and if everyone liked it, bring it up during the staff meeting later. And if they approve, we'll make the announcements in the morning and I'll get someone to pick up the paper and candles."

"There will have to be a mass paper boat folding party," Hermione said thoughtfully.

"Nah, I can fold about three boats a minute," Ginny said with a wave of her hand. "Ron can do two or three as well. It's a really easy charm, but you have to make sure it completes it right."

"You get some funky shapes if you don't pay attention," Ron said with a grimace. "Twins still tease me about some of mine."

"Of course they do, it was hilarious," Ginny said with a laugh. "Ten people for ten minutes should be able to crank out two-fifty to three hundred of them. Do that for the next five days, if even that, and we'll have plenty."

"We need to make more than fifteen hundred," Hermione said. "There's about a thousand students, and if they sail a boat for every person who they know who has died--"

"Yeah, Hermione's right," Harry said. "So... twenty people do that once or twice a day--"

"Or, the D.A. could spend part of our lessons getting them ready, on top of the ten people," Padma offered. "And I'm sure the prefects will want to help."

"Do a joint effort between the D.A. and the prefects?" Ginny said with a nod. "That's a good idea. Prefects have the money, and the D.A. has the man power and the ... connection to the cause."

"I'll pitch that idea to the other prefects and later to the professors," Harry said, grabbing a plate. "But, like Severus said, I'm a seventeen and a half year old boy who is starving. Can someone hand me the pork chops?" Harry looked up at the stunned faces. "What? Those are pork chops, aren't they?"

"Since when is Professor Snape 'Severus'?" Blaise asked, stunned just like the rest.

"For about a week," Ron said, his voice distasteful. "It's worse then Ginny's 'Uncle Severus' bit."

"Oh, shut up, Ron," Ginny said, exasperated with her brother. "Those two have come a long way from the hate issue they had years ago. Don't mock it now."

"It's just wrong!" he said, outraged that his sister would question that. "Granted, he's a decent bloke, but still--It's Snape!"

"Just drop it," Harry said sternly. "I hadn't meant to call him that, Ron, it just slipped out. And, Ginny, Ron's right... it is different... because it is Snape... who isn't like Remus or Thia."

"Alright," both Weasley siblings agreed, though everyone else didn't look so convinced.

"Look, Snape and I have spent a lot of time together because of an extra lesson I take from him," Harry explained. "Until recently it was Occlumency, which is me basically allowing him to try to 'read' my mind. It led to quite an understanding between the two of us. If it really bothers you, just forget it. I won't let it slip again."

"No worries," Dean said to placate him. "It's just odd, you know... because like Ron said, it's you and Snape. Just doesn't seem plausible."

"Well, it is," Harry said, his temper fraying as his stomach remained empty. "Now, will Parvati please hand the pork chops to Dean, who will please hand them to Hermione, who will please set them down right in front of me?" Everyone chuckled and the three called upon did as asked. Harry thanked them, placed several chops on his plate and started eating.

True, Monday wasn't quite over yet, but it was still amazing that he'd made it all the way to supper without any major upsetting events occurring. It was a refreshing change. He could get used to this.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Harry stood on the banks of the Lake, underneath the beech tree. The past week had been a blur, busy preparing for this night: teachers to convince, charities to contact, paper and candles to buy, boats to fold, posters to make, students to tell. But in the end, all that work had been worth it. Watching all the candles on the Lake proved it.

Harry's left arm was wrapped securely around Ginny's shoulders, her right around his waist. Ron and Hermione stood similarly on his right, Blaise and Sephra on his left. Some of the girls were crying; the guys had tears in their eyes and pensive looks on their faces. Thousands of candles floated on the surface of the Lake, twinkling up at the clear winter sky. Hundreds of students lined the shore, looking at the eerie beauty of the candles and reflected stars. Every light in Hogwarts was dimmed or completely out in honor of the dead. Professors were there, husbands and wives and children, people most of the students had never met stood with them. Aurors stood, in their dress uniforms, hands behind their backs, heads held proud. Villagers from Hogsmeade made their own group, families with young children asleep on shoulders.

News of this "not quite a memorial service" had spread. Graduated students were there as well, Cho standing alone with Dean, Justin, and Blaise. Justin had Parvati at his side; Dean was hugging a sobbing Lisa Turpin, whose family had died over break while she had been at Susan Bones' house. Katie Bell, Alicia Spinnet, and Angelina Johnson were there as well. The twins with Mina and Melita nearby, actually subdued and serious as only funerals and the like could do to such normally buoyant people. The other Weasleys were there, Percy standing next to Charlie who held the hand of a short witch with auburn hair. Minister Vance, Thia, Madam Bones, and several other Ministry officials had congregated in a small knot, many with their heads bowed.

Slowly, one by one the lights started to flicker and give one last brilliant sparkle of life. Ginny had long since stopped crying, her eyes dry as she watched them go out. Harry pulled her close, praying to anyone: deities, the dead, or anything else that might be listening that no matter what happened, the price for a win would not be Ginny's life, nor Ron's or Hermione's. He'd be willing to pay just about any price, just not that one.

The cost of life was so high, so many dead, so many permanently wounded. Sam and her kids, Molly's brothers, his dad's parents, Thia and Remus' parents, his own parents, Thia's daughter, Frank and Alice Longbottom, Bertha Jorkins, the old gardener, Cedric, Bode, Sirius, Sephra's family, Hestia Jones and her family, Fudge and others at Diagon Alley, the First Battle for Hogsmeade, Blaise's parents, Cho's aunt, Dean's family, Justin's family, Mr. Weasley, Dedalus Diggle, the rest of the death toll for the Second Battle for Hogsmeade, the Auror named Trish, little Mary, the other residents of Privet Drive, the Weird Sister's band member, Professor Dumbledore, the casualties of the Battle at Hogwarts Wall, the villagers of the recent revelries.

So many deaths.

So many wounded.

How different would Hogwarts be if all those families hadn't been killed during the first war? Hogwarts enrollment was down from past years because of it. How different would everyone's lives be if Voldemort had not risen to power? Sure, there would have probably been another dark lord, but no one quite like Voldemort. How different would he be if not for Voldemort? If he'd grown up with his parents?

Ginny's arms tightened around him, sensing the inner turmoil. The rings, which meant so much to both of them, were both a blessing and a curse. Ginny hadn't slept much either, due to his nightmares. Waking up ill and terrified traveled along their connection and woke her up. She might not know what happened, but she knew something had. But, having that promise gave him something to work for. If he died, he wouldn't be able to marry her and if they didn't get married, he'd never have a family.

It was worth it. This fight. It really was.

It was nice getting reminders like this.

Sometimes, when all Harry could focus on was Revelries, little things like watching the last of the floating candles burn out with Ginny, Ron, and Hermione reminded him why he fought. Why he kept going. Because, sometimes, it just seemed futile and pointless.

But, it wasn't.

Because, after everything they had suffered, they still had each other.

Still had something to fight for.

Voldemort will never have his immortality, but Harry knew in a few years he will have his family. And his family was not going to grow up fearing Voldemort.

No, they would pity him.

For someone so warped and misguided deserves to be pitied. To not know love--that was what was worse than death. To be loveless and unloved.

Pity barely covered that.

Harry hugged Ginny closer, kissing the top of her head. Resting his forehead against hers, he stared down at her and smiled. He could spend hours staring down into those eyes, their chocolate brown sparkling with the love and life within. The last candle flickered out and people started to make their way up to the castle or down to the gates. Harry pulled Ginny another way, to the spot where the Wall met the Lake. A tall, thin, white pillar stood at the spot where they had burned Albus Dumbledore's funeral pyre. A similarly long, thin flame rose from the top, an everlasting flame. A gift from a great witch in South America, to honor an even greater wizard.

Albus Dumbledore
Born ~ June 21, 1841
Died ~ December 19, 1997
A brother, a friend, a father,
A teacher, a mentor, a leader,
Above all else, Headmaster.
Death is but the next
great adventure.

Several people were already there. Severus hung back towards the shadows, Fawkes on his shoulder. McGonagall stood next to Nancy Nettle and both were talking quietly near the shore of the Lake. Aberforth stood next to the memorial, his hand resting on it was supporting his body weight. To be so loved as Dumbledore still was. As long as those living kept those dead in their hearts, they would never truly be gone.

Dumbledore had told him that long ago. He had been right, though it hadn't made sense at the time. For all he had done, Harry had still only been thirteen at the time. The only death he knew was his parents'. Those more recently, of people he knew better, had taught him that what Dumbledore had said was true.

The wise man would always be in Harry's heart. He would always be there, to give counsel. Maybe not in person, but in memory. Dumbledore had helped with Harry's decisions concerning Christmas, and many had come up to thank him since, including a very surly Potions Master. His list of books was training him quite well, though nothing would substitute the special flare Dumbledore had brought to the lessons. Fawkes was still a great tutor, and thanks to Dumbledore's instructions, he always would be. The other lessons the old Headmaster had taught him would guide him through life.

To not have this, as Voldemort did not, was too sad to consider. How pathetic. He really did only deserve their pity. And anger. But not fear.

How could you fear someone so pathetic?