Together!
Chapter Thirteen: Together!
Harry stood, next to Draco, in a line of mostly older wizards. Professor Snape stood on his other side, while Mr. Olivander checked their wands. "Ah, willow and unicorn hair, 12 inches, good wand! Perfect treatment, I suppose, Mr. Malfoy?"
"Yes, Mr. Olivander."
"Ah, good to see you, Harry! Yes, perfect - your wand is in a great condition. It has to be, I fear."
"Seems so, Sir. I need it quite often."
"Yes, yes - ah, Severus. It's been a while since you came to my shop the first time, but I remember it as if it was yesterday! Moorland Oak, 12 inches, Unicorn-hair, mighty wand for a mighty wizard, indeed!"
Snape snorted and Olivander walked on, checking the other member's wands. Most were in a good condition, though a few had to be repaired. At least, Mr. Olivander nodded to Dumbledore, who held his wand out. "Please, here you are."
"Ah, I've never seen such a wand before. Self-made?"
"No, my mother did it."
"13 inches, mahogany, I suppose, but I can't identify the magical source inside. What is it?"
"Pegasus-feather, rare, but it suits quite well."
"So this wand was your first? What about the wand I sold you 57 years ago? Mahogany and Unicorn-hair, 10 inches."
"I use your wand for the daily things, this one is only for war, it's mightier than the other one in my hands. As I said, it was made by my mother and she knew what she did."
"I know, dear friend, she was my master after all!"
When Dumbledore wanted to answer something, a young wizard entered the hall, hastily running towards the headmaster. "Dumbledore, sir! The Death Eaters were located! They are over the channel now and will arrive in about six hours, maybe even earlier! The French aurors followed them with some distance and will help us to defend the school. Greetings from Madam Maxine and Hagrid, by the way. Beaubaxtons stayed clear of an attack, so we will have to deal with the full force of You-know-who!"
"Ah - I see, thank you Mr. Boot. We have to take care of the last unfulfilled tasks. Harry, would you join me for a minute?"
"Sure, Professor."
Draco fell in step next to Harry, but Dumbledore denied his subtle request of presence with a firm push towards the other students. Draco shot Dumbledore an angry glare, but he stayed with the others, while the headmaster led Harry towards the doors.
When they had reached a more private place to talk in Dumbledore's office, the old wizard sat behind his desk, sighing sadly. "Many will fall today and the next days, I fear. This is the last battle, even if some from whichever side survive..."
"I know my place."
"Do you?"
"Yes. If I can't defeat him, then he will kill me. That's our fate."
"I fear I cannot change it. It hurts me deeply to see a student of mine fighting such a battle, but we have no choice."
"I know, I'll give my best."
"Is there anything I can do for you?"
"A last request?" he teased.
"Quite, but I hope not."
"Yes, there is something. Can you watch Draco, I couldn't bear to loose him!"
"Hmm, I can't, for I will fight at your side against Voldemort, but I think Professor Mc'Caughn is more then qualified to do that."
"I wished Draco would just stay safe in the dungeons, but he's a stubborn donkey!"
"He loves you."
"I know, I love him, too, but it's so dangerous! I cannot look after him and defeat Voldemort at the same time!"
"Keep the faith. We will look after him, but I can't promise anything."
"At least, if we die, we will most likely die together! Crazy, isn't it, that something like that is such a calming thought?"
"The world is a mystery, Harry."
"Anything else?"
"Yes: Do you know what to do, when you face him?"
"No, I don't. But I WILL do something, and if it's the last thing I do - literally!"
"Good luck, your parents were proud of you!"
"I don't know...maybe, they were."
"You are doing great, kick his silly butt, will you?"
"Professor, language!"
"Oh, fuck off! We'll fight a battle and I'm sick of the whole Dark Lord-thingy!"
"Me too! We'll kick his butt!"
Harry left the office, not knowing if he should laugh or worry: Dumbledore seemed rather - happy!? /It will be over, after all, no matter what happens, he'll have his peace then! He has a right to be happy, if you think about it. Crazy old coot!/
~
The first thing Harry saw, when he re-entered the great hall, was Hermione and Ron, kissing heavily in front of everyone.
"Hi guys!"
"Oh! Harry!!!" Hermione said, blushing deeply, "We missed you!"
"I see. How are you?"
Ron smiled at him shyly. "Good, the circumstances..." but Hermione interrupted him. "You look great - what happened?"
"I'm in love with the most brilliant and gorgeous boy in the whole world, and he loves me back!"
"Oh HARRY, who is it? A Ravenclaw? Is he in Hogwarts? Do we know him?"
"Well, that is exactly the problem - you know him, but..."
In this moment, Draco approached behind him, hugging him tightly and kissing his neck softly. "Mr. Wonderful is back!"
Harry turned towards his friends. "It's Draco."
Whatever Ron and Hermione had thought about their friend, now he had gone insane. "Malfoy? You okay up there?" Ron shouted in disgust. "He's the son of Lucius Malfoy - DEATH EATER number one!"
Draco snorted. "Obviously, Weasley, you have just arrived by now, or else you would have known, that my father was a spy like Professor Snape, and even if he wasn't - I'm not him, but myself, so don't judge me after somebody else!"
"I see - but Harry!" Ron said to his friend, "Why HIM?"
"He's different now, Ron. I know he was a git to us all, but things are different now. Please be civil towards each other."
Ron wanted to say something harsh, but Hermione cut him short. "If you think so, I don't mind, but if he hurts you WE WILL KILL YOU!" The last words directed towards Draco, who nodded swiftly. "I know. Sorry for being a spoiled bastard to you, but I had to keep an image, at least in front of the Slytherins. They can be quite ignorant at times."
"I cannot believe you just said 'sorry', Malfoy, but we can hardly ignore that you are Harry's boyfriend, so - it's Ron."
"It's Hermione, too, if you like."
"Draco for you two, but don't think I'll be a nice, friendly goody-goody, just because I shag your best friend."
"Draco! Where do you think you are?" Harry shouted, highly embarrassed.
Ron stared at Draco. "You - you have...?"
"Ronald Weasley Harry and I are together since nearly three month and we might die this evening - so what do you think did we do last night? I don't want my boyfriend to die as a virgin."
"I'm not a virgin, Draco!"
"No, since last night surely not!"
"I haven't been before!"
"In that way, you have!"
Hermione tapped at Draco's shoulder. "Could you please stop yelling - people are looking!"
"Oh - I don't mind, but Harry does, so: all right - I'll stop!"
"Thank you."
"Are you a virgin?"
Ron stepped between his girlfriend and the blonde Slytherin. "What does that matter to YOU?"
"Is she?"
"No she's not - stop talking about her!"
Hermione and Harry looked at each other helplessly and shrugged their shoulders.
When Draco and Ron had cooled down, the four sat in a corner of the hall, silently talking about 'issues', when Professor Mc Gonagall walked over to them. "It's time, boys!", she addressed Harry and Draco, "Dumbledore is waiting for you in the entry-hall. All first-line fighters are to meet there now, it will begin soon! And, Potter, Malfoy - good luck! Come back safely!"
"You two are first-lines?" Hermione asked horrified, "But you are students!"
"Herm, I'm Harry Potter. There is a certain prophecy about Voldemort and me: if I don't kill him today, then he'll kill me. Anyway - I promised Dumbledore to - literally - kick his ass, so I'll try that. And Draco - he won't leave my side if I chained him to a wall!"
"That was the prophecy last year about?"
"Yes."
"Why didn't you tell us?"
"No time. And I didn't really want to - sorry guys."
Ron shook his head. "You are the one to defeat the Dark Lord, and you didn't tell us?"
"I'm sorry."
"No, Harry, you're not. It doesn't matter anyway - even if I wanted to stand by your side - Mione wouldn't let me!"
"Perfectly right!" the girl said, "I don't want to see my love die!"
Draco sighed. "At least I can die with you, in case of that."
"I know - I love you, no matter what happens - be careful!"
"You tell ME that!"
"I do - I mean it! Don't do anything more stupid that you have already done by following me!"
"'Tis not stupid! That's love!"
Ron rolled his eyes and got up to embrace Harry. "Look after yourself, mate. I hope you can KICK HIS ASS!"
Then he walked to Draco. "You, too.", and hugged him shortly. The blonde was stunned, but returned the hug. "Be careful, Ron."
Hermione smiled at them and kissed both boys on the cheek: "You'll do great - I just know you will!" Tears formed in her eyes, but she straightened her back and smiled. "We will do it - together!"
Then they left...
TBC
AN/ I listened to "1/2 Lovesong" from Die Ärzte (German band) and "Reamonn - Star" if you hear these songs, you'll understand my mood while writing this!
Cry: "so sad **sob***"
lCiel
