Three Hours to Live

Three Hours to Live

By Matt Coggins

Chapter 3

Ron Weasley got out of his bed and yawned. It had been a long night. The whole Gryffindor house had been celebrating Harry Potter's success with the very difficult Portal spell.

"Hey, Harry," he said to the bed next to him. "Nice job with that Portal spell last night. Harry, are you awake?"

Ron threw the covers off the bed and Harry wasn't there. Ron thought, He can't have gone to class, it's not for three more hours.

Suddenly, a portal opened in front of Ron. Harry and Hermione walked through it, both looking like they had seen something really bad.

"Harry, Hermione!" Ron said. "Where have you guys-..."

"I don't believe it," whispered Harry, completely ignoring Ron. "I've got only three hours to live."

"Harry, what are you-..."

"Let me tell him, Harry," Hermione said. "Last night I had a premonition, and Harry didn't believe it was real, so we went into our future and saw that it does come true."

"When does he... um... die?" asked Ron.

"Near the time of Transfiguration class, today," Hermione replied.

"Three hours," said Ron, quietly. "Three hours to live. Harry's got three hours to live!"

"That's what I said," Harry snapped.

"This is horrible," Ron sobbed. "My best friend is going to die!"

***

Three hours came very fast, and the trio soon found themselves walking down the stairs to Transfiguration class.

Ron thought telling a joke might help, so he told a rather funny one about a Boggart and a warlock. Hermione laughed but Harry didn't.

All of a sudden, Harry bent down in pain, clutching his forehead.

"NO!" Hermione yelled. "It's happening!"

From the balcony of the first floor, Harry, Ron, and Hermione saw Voldemort standing in the middle of the hall.

"HARRY POTTER!!!" he yelled. "Your rein of good will end today! Ever since you've taken the power out of me, I've wanted to destroy you!!

"My power is back, now, so let it be known that Lord Voldemort will finally destroy Harry Potter!"

Voldemort drew out his wand and Harry did the same as he jumped off the balcony.

"Avada Kadavra!" Voldemort yelled.

"Protego!" Harry cast the shield charm to protect himself from getting killed. Voldemort dodged the spell as it came back.

Harry saw Hermione was on the floor with him, her wand drawn, her face stern, and she was muttering the words, "Not the killing spell, not the killing spell,"

"Hermione!" he yelled. "Cast a spell!"

"I can't!"

"Avada Kadavra!" Voldemort yelled.

Harry dodged the spell and looked at Hermione.

"You have to!" he said. "Maybe I will get killed, but that's what destiny wants of me. If I must die then so be it!"

"But Harry," Hermione cried. "I love you!"

"What?" It seemed to Harry time froze at that moment. It felt like he wasn't dueling with the second most powerful wizard in the world. Hermione loved him? Is that why she didn't want him to die?

Hermione raised her wand above her head and glared at Voldemort.

"What are you going to do little girl?" he asked. "Are you going to kill me? Ha, ha, ha! No mere mortal can kill the mighty Voldemort!"

"No," said Hermione with a smirk. "But the mere mortal can make a portal under your feet and send you into a parallel universe. Lesotho!"

Hermione pointed her wand straight in front of her and a black shape shot out of it. The shape hit the floor under Voldemort and spread into a full sized portal. The Dark Lord then disappeared into it.

"I knew that spell would come in handy," Hermione said.

"Hermione," Harry said. "Is it true, what you said, about you and me?"

"Well... um.. yes," Hermione replied. "I've been wanting to tell you for the last seven years we've been here, and I guess I never got the guts."

"Hey guys," Ron called. "After what Hermione did to You-know-who, where do you think he went?"

"I guess I never thought about that," Hermione said. "I just wanted him out of here."

"Didn't we all," Harry said. He was free of wondering whether he was going to die or not. He was free of Voldemort, at least for now.

To Be Continued

5/30/04