| Jarvey
Join Date: May 2008 Location: Leicester, UK
Posts: 567
Hogwarts RPG Name:
Krysta Hedwig
Sixth Year | 
Happy Friday everyone. Here's some weekend reading for you:
Chapter 18, part 2
Harry smiled and bunched his shoulders against the cold.
"The question is what does she want? Is she trying to reach you? That sounded like a warning. And why Ginny?"
"She's close to me I guess."
"Then why not Hermione?" asked Ron.
"Dunno. Maybe it's the red hair." Harry suggested with a slight grin and Ron returned it.
"I think she's trying to help us, that's definite. Maybe she knows about the Time Loop. I mean it has to have some kind of effect on the fabric of dimensions. Yana must be affected by it." Harry had been nodding up until now.
"Yana?" he asked. He'd heard that word before.
"Yana." Ron repeated nodding then noticed the blank look on Harry's face. "The collective." He added but Harry's face remained empty of understanding. "The great spirit." Ron tried again.
"Oh you mean God?" Harry said.
"God? No, no Gods are egotistical immortals with family issues." Ron said looking strangely at Harry. "Harry you must know of Yana."
"Well some Muggles kind of believe in an almighty being that created the earth etc, etc." he said shrugging. Ron's eyebrows lifted.
"Yana didn't create the earth. I'm not even sure what did but that's not important. It's complicated. Yana is…well…everything. There are so many legends and tales as to what Yana really is but no one truly knows."
"So what do you know?"
"Well, all I was taught was that when we die we become of Yana."
"Become of Yana? What does that mean?"
"I'm not entirely sure…I didn't pay much attention." Ron grinned his usual sheepish grin and Harry couldn't help but laugh.
"Oh no, the shops are shutting." Harry looked up at Ron's cry and saw to his dismay the shop keepers putting out their lanterns and locking their doors.
"What are we going to do?" wailed Harry thinking of the disappointment they'd see on Ginny's face.
"Well there's nothing we can do about it now." Kicking the pebbles in the street with annoyance they turned back the way they had come.
"You'd think she'd be more worried you know." Harry had been lost in his own train of thought and looked up almost startled when his friend spoke. "Ginny." Prompted Ron when he saw the questioning look on Harry's face.
"Maybe she's just masking it." He suggested but Ron shook his head.
"She isn't really like that. If there's something up you know about it. Sure she broods and refuses to talk about her problems but she doesn't really hide them. Not successfully." Harry thought about it and Ron was right. Of course he was, he was her brother.
He thought some more. This afternoon in the pub had been the first time he'd seen her relaxed in about a month. She'd been a recluse completely, not talking to anyone, not even wanting to play Quidditch. He mentioned these thoughts to Ron.
"I suppose in a way, today, however many todays there have been, doesn't really count. It's almost like the fact that it just keeps repeating, to her, feels like it doesn't exist at all." Harry stared at Ron in astonishment. This was very deep and well thought out for Ron of all people.
"Er, yeah maybe." He said, still looking at his friend oddly.
"I mean, if it was me, and I knew I was going to die at the end of the day, I'd either panic and freak out, or just chill out and try to enjoy the day…probably with copious amounts of Butterbeer." He continued and Harry was thoughtful.
"I guess, but…" he paused unsure of what it was he wanted to say. "I'd probably be trying to work on surviving rather than just accepting my fate and giving in like that." Harry realised maybe it had come across as an insult and began trying to take it back. Ron however waved his hand.
"It's ok. That's just the difference between us. I panic, you save the day." He mocked and they both laughed out loud receiving a strange look from a passing Hag in ragged shawls. This just made them laugh even more however and the Hag scuttled off down the street as fast as her crooked legs would take her.
All of a sudden a strange noise met Harry's ears. A voice.
"Nexxxxxt time."
He looked around himself quickly but could see no one.
"What's with you?" asked Ron trying to catch his breath from laughing.
"Did you hear that?"
"Hear what? You're not having another premonition are you?" Harry shook his head. No, I heard a voice. It said "Next Time" and then…it was gone.
"Oh dear."
"Hey it's not my fault I hear things. What?" he asked when he saw the haunted look on Ron's face and realising that the comment hadn't been aimed at him. He looked ahead, following Ron's gaze and gulped when he saw Professor Snape marching towards them. Somehow he wasn't so surprised to see the man.
"Er, hello Professor. We were just…" he didn't get chance to finish as their Potions teacher grabbed each of them by the collar of their robes and began pulling them, not too gently, along the street.
"Not now Mr. Weasley. You need to get off the streets."
“But, hey, what are you…"
"Ok, ok, Professor we'll come quietly!" exclaimed Harry not too impressed by the way they were being manhandled down the street. Snape released them as though realising that maybe he was being a little over-zealous.
“Hurry then.” He ordered sharply. That was the Snape they knew and despised. What had brought about the change? A few seconds later he saw why. Sirius Black appeared at the door of the Three Broomsticks, the expression on his face matching that of Snape.
"She's ok. Did you see where it went?" he asked sharply.
"Sirius? What…"
"Not now Harry." Harry took a half step back. He wasn't used to being spoken to by his Godfather like that. Especially as he hadn't seen him for months.
"I lost it. Right before I found these two." Growled Snape and Ron gave Harry a look that said ‘Oh yay, Snape's back’.
"Lets get them inside." Said Sirius briskly and the two men ushered the boys inside the tavern. They were shocked to find the whole place empty. It was never empty. But it wasn't completely empty. Near the table they'd been sitting at earlier was a small crowd of people. Madam Rosmerta bustled around nervously gathering glasses and bowls from the tables, anxiously glancing at the small group of people like she'd seen a ghost...a scary one.
"Ron had already dashed across the room to be with his sister who was seated at the very same table they had been at earlier. But before he could get anywhere near her two strong hands grabbed hold of his shoulders and shook him violently. Ron cried out and automatically began fighting back at his unseen assailant. Harry stared in astonishment as Fred Weasley was pulled off his little brother by another tall red headed figure. Charlie held back his younger brother, though the expression he sent Ron's way was hardly filled with love. He looked furious and in Harry's eyes, a little disappointed.
"Where were you?" bellowed Fred trying to free himself from Charlie's iron-like grip. Ron only stared back in shock. "She could have died. You were meant to stay with her. How could you leave her?" Fred sounded so angry and so upset Ron couldn't even defend himself. He just stared around at his family, his body slumped. He was ashamed. It didn't take his best friend to recognise that. But wait, though, wasn't this partly Harry's fault too? Or was that not the point. Ginny had been left in her brother's care. He looked at her and saw her shivering, an ice-pack on her leg, eyes red and damp. She was shaking her head and Harry could see she meant to defend Ron but clearly had neither the energy or the chance.
He moved closer to the table and found his hand quickly grasped by Ginny's small pale one. She looked up desperately at him.
"It knew. It was just waiting for you to leave. It..." she trailed off, swaying gently from side to side. Heather caught her and Ginny leaned heavily against her. Harry looked up at Heather who eyed him a little coldly.
"She's weak. It was the same snake. She'll be ok. Krysta got most of the venom out but...this shouldn't have happened."
"Look, we didn't mean for this to happen ok?" he said a little louder than intended. "We...we just wanted to get her presents. And...there was something up with that beer I am sure of it. It's like we weren't thinking straight. And you two were late." He defended angrily the shock of the situation sinking in.
"Oh so it's our fault?" began George taking a step forward aggressively. He moved backwards quickly however when a dark figure stood between them. Harry expected to see Sirius, but was shocked to instead see Snape.
"Enough. Your sister is safe. For how long, we don't know. Right now we need to get back to the school. Mister Potter..." Harry looked up at him, and was almost relieved to see and hear the vehemence that had returned in Snape at the utterance of his name.
"Take Miss Granger and Miss Summer back to Honeydukes. It's the fastest way back to the castle." Harry's mouth fell open in shock. So Snape knew about the secret passage. He noticed a similar expression on Sirius's face, but that faded quickly. Harry ushered Heather and Hermione out of the door glancing behind him to see Charlie gather his little sister up in his arms. Snape lead the small procession out of The Three Broomsticks with Fred and George following Charlie and Ginny, ensuring she was protected from all directions. Ron stood where he was for a few moments and Harry's heart sank a little to see the pain, guilt and self hatred on his friend's face.
He kicked the pebbles in the street absently watching his family escorting Ginny down the street to where a carriage waited. He watched short words exchange between Sirius Black and Professor Snape and watched Sirius disappear into the shadows. He dawdled in the back watching his family move further and further into the distance. He stood still in the middle of the almost empty street and watched as they boarded the carriage and as they disappeared down the street, the sound of hooves on cobbled stones faded into the distance. Silence surrounded him and for the 11th time in as many Halloweens, Ronald Weasley lost faith.
*
"It isn't right is it?"
Harry looked up from the fire he'd been staring into. Hermione was kneeling dangerously on the windowsill, her nose pressed against the dirty pane. The words had come from Heather, who was pacing up and down the common room anxiously.
"No." announced Hermione not moving her face so that her breath made a circle of condensation appear on the cold glass. Harry watched it slowly disappear but watched the small circles that appeared and disappeared with her breathing.
"Anything?" asked Heather again. She stopped to look at Hermione.
"No." Hermione said again and Heather returned to her pacing.
*
"Is she alright?"
"She's fine."
Ginny's brothers were gathered around her hospital bed anxiously. She had become very pale but her blue eyes were open looking at them. Professor Snape stood at the door peering down the staircase beyond as if waiting for someone to appear. When he heard the footsteps he perked up a little, but when the three students came into view, the scowl returned to his face.
*
It was freezing. The kind of wind that feels like an icy blade across your cheeks. Ron tried to wrap his cloak around him but lost the fight in the gales that surrounded him. He gave up and began moving again.
*
"Give her this." Hermione gently ordered holding out the pendant. Harry looked at her strangely as the pendant swung across Ginny's chest. She coughed slightly and looked up at Hermione. No one could miss the smile. She was trying to say something. Clutching the chain around her neck she tried to raise herself to a sitting position only to be pushed down again by Charlie.
"no." she protested. The next word to leave her lips caused everyone to looked around the room and realise for the first time that someone was missing.
"Ron."
*
In the deafening beating of the wind in his ears Ron didn't hear a thing. He didn't sense the creature slithering up from behind him or the dark shadow slinking an approach from the other direction. He saw it at the last moment. Its Teeth bared and ready to pounce Ron was frozen to the spot in front of the deadly feline. His scream was silenced by the gale-force winds surrounding him as the panther pounced.
*
"I can't believe we were so stupid!" cried Heather bitterly as they literally flew down the corridor. That's how it felt. Harry tripped on the steps so fast he didn't have time to fall. Snape was ahead of them by quite a distance. How could the man move so fast? And where was Professor Hedwig when you needed her? The thoughts came fast and furious in his head. They couldn't afford for this to happen. He thought they'd made it. He thought they'd saved the day…or put an end to it at least. But in saving Ginny they'd ignored the danger that was still out there. Why hadn't he come back with his family? Why didn't they check that everyone was safe and why would he have wandered off anyway? Ok so people were mad at him. Harry didn't have time to be thinking these things. They'd ignored the protesting shouts from Hermione and torn out the door right after Snape. Harry wasn't going to let this day end in disaster. Not again.
*
"Is it dead?"
"Well…..it's head's over there…..and its tail's over there….so I'd say yes." Ron was shaking on the spot where he stood and not from the cold.
"Did you do it, Ron?" he shook his head not taking his eyes off the torn snake.
"It's the same snake that came into the great Hall that time...the one you talked to." Exclaimed Heather.
"It's Nagini." He said solemnly. Snape looked up in surprise. Harry caught his eye and he was sure he saw a slight look of fear in the man's eyes.
"She was sent to kill Ginny and failed...so she went for the next best thing."
"Ron was exposed, that's all, she was after Ginny."
"She's killed Hermione before now. I'd say she's just after anyone that looks like a good guy." Argued Heather.
"Hermione died?" asked Charlie and they all turned to see that he had followed them back down the tunnel into Hogsmeade.
"It's complicated." Began Harry but was cut off by Charlie raising his hand.
"No need. Fred and George told me about this time loop thing. What happened?"
Ron was still fixed to the spot.
"Ron?"
Finally he looked up at his brother, wide-eyed and clearly in shock.
"I-I....I thought it was going to kill me." The all stared down at Nagini's remains and Heather shuddered.
"It just lunged at me." He continued. "I didn't even have time to curse it, it just..."
"It's ok, Ron. It's dead." Heather tried to calm the babbling boy but he shook his wide blue eyes with earnest.
"No! No it saved me. I thought it was going to kill me but it saved me." They all stared at him in shock.
"Nagini saved you? From what?" asked Harry watching the snake's corpse with disgust. He could still remember being in its coils last Summer. He shuddered at the memory.
"No. The cat. The-the-the panther. Like you said Harry. A black panther."
"What?" asked Harry barely believing his ears.
"From your Dream. It must be. It's real, Harry, it's real." Harry's jaw dropped whilst the others looked at each other confused. All...except Snape whose eye gleamed just long enough for Harry to notice.
"Are you alright?!" cried Hermione flinging herself at Ron who just about managed to stay upright.
"I'm fine. I'm tired." He said wearily staring at the floor. He'd avoided eye contact with everyone who stared at him with a plethora of expressions as he turned and disappeared up the dorm stairwell. Hermione sighed deeply and looked at Heather who looked at Ginny. Ginny looked towards the stairwell and frowned. Harry looked at her and realised how happy he was that she had survived the day. Nagini was dead and everyone had survived. Surely, SURELY this had broken the cycle.
*
"It's not going to work we got it all wrong!" cried Heather jumping on the bed violently, closely followed by Hermione. Ginny stood a little shakily at the door, still pale and Harry was surprised that she was even standing.
"It's not me." She said croakily with a faint look of exasperation.
"It's not Ginny!" yelled Heather again and Harry moaned.
"Ok, ok!" he grumbled clambering out of bed just to get away from the two girls who continued to bounce on his bed. Harry stopped dead when he saw 3 pairs of eyes watching in bemused astonishment. Neville, Dean and Seamus standing on one side of the room watching the whole event.
"Say, Dean, you reckon if we go slay an evil being we'd get beautiful women jumping on our beds?" asked Seamus and Dean cupped his chin in his fingers thoughtfully.
"No." he finally decided. Harry threw them a spiteful squint, which just made them grin even more. He noticed Hermione blushing at being described as a beautiful woman and smiled to himself.
"It's not Ginny." Repeated Heather clearly getting impatient.
"What isn't?" he asked, completely flabbergasted by this.
"The key!" she practically shouted in frustration. "Aren't you paying attention? We only have one day left!"
"Ok, so it's not Ginny…then who is it?" at this Heather flopped down onto Harry's bed and looked serious.
"We don't know." She said and Hermione looked uncomfortable. Harry rolled his eyes.
"Well, we figured that the person who cast the spell wants to change something and at first we thought they wanted rid of Ginny."
"Why would someone want rid of Ginny?" Hermione and Heather shared one of their glances and Heather ignored the question.
"Then we thought it was Norbert they wanted rid of."
"Why would someone want rid of Norbert?" he asked, still confused.
"And then we thought they wanted rid of Dumbledore."
"Huh?"
"Well do you really think he could keep his job if another student died? The Ministry and parents would insist on his removal." Harry thought it made sense, but he could tell another 'but' was coming up.
"But then we realised that we were looking too closely at the events." Began Heather.
"Yes. As we've already said an event can have repercussions years and years down the line." Continued Hermione.
"Which is why we think someone is trying to spark a landslide of events that will affect something huge in the future." Finished Ginny. Harry had almost forgotten she was there. She moved further into the room to stand by the window gazing out over the fields and forest below.
"And how does you dying, or Hermione dying or whoever dying affect things?"
"Well we don't know do we, we're not seers."
"Well if we don't know what we're trying to prevent, how can we change things? We're back where we started and tomorrow is strike 12. 12 strikes and we're out." He told them using his strongest voice. Even Heather seemed to recoil a little. Hermione sighed again and her best scowl adorned her face. She looked around the room.
"Where's Ron?" she asked staring at his empty bed. It was nearly Midnight. Where on earth could he be? Something clicked in Harry's mind.
The look on Ron's face when he saw Ginny's dead body the first time.
The hatred in his curses as he slayed the dragon he suspected of taking her life.
The pain when he held Hermione's body in his arms.
The self-hatred when he'd left Ginny alone.
The tears he'd wept.
The shame he'd felt.
The Faith he'd lost.
"Ron!" Harry shouted, making Ginny jump and turn quickly around.
"Where?" asked Hermione looking towards the door.
"No, no, Ron's the key." He shouted.
"You following this Seamus?" asked Dean leaning sideways towards the Irish lad.
"Not a frickin' word." He replied.
"How do you figure that, Harry?" asked Heather looking a little sceptical.
"Who'd been seriously and emotionally affected by whatever happens today?"
"All of us, Harry. It's affected all of us."
"Yes but Ron more than anyone. His sister dies and he blames himself. He kills an innocent creature. He loses the girl he…" he trailed off as he looked at Hermione. "…cares a hell of a lot about."
"You could say the same about you, couldn't you?"
"No, not to this extent. Ron blamed himself for everything that happens. You should have seen him earlier. There was something missing. And he said something to me earlier, something I'd forgotten until now. He said 'I panic, you save the day' or something like that."
"So…that's about right isn't it?" Heather asked again a little insultingly. Hermione and Ginny leapt to his defence immediately.
"No!" cried Ginny moving towards Heather in a manner Harry thought was quite aggressive and he could see that fiery Weasley temper rise in her.
"Ron really isn't like that. He just feels he is. He's brave and loyal and trustworthy and…" Hermione trailed off and Harry could see tears in her eyes. "He's wonderful." She finished and Ginny stood firmly next to her nodded furiously.
"He has never ever let me down. He is always there for me."
"And me." Added Harry defensively.
"And me!" cried Hermione. Heather smiled gently, taking a step backwards and holding up her hands up in defence against the onslaught that had been sent her way.
"Well then maybe someone should tell him that before the world ends, huh?"
To be continued....
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