Harry Potter and The Ring of Doom
A/N: I seem to have accidentally uploaded chapter two twice...terribly sorry. Here is the real chapter three....
I would like to thank Kaelin, Gia, Skipper, The Red Dragon's Order, Kiwi, hikari, and Oblivion for reviewing.
Chapter 3: Butterbeer and Revelations
Harry sighed softly. Dawn was a long way off, so, after several minutes of tossing and turning, he decided to get up. He crept past Ron's sleeping form and carefully pulled on some clothes. Then he walked out the door and made his way down to the pub.
"No, sir. I was a bit thirsty is all," Harry replied, "Could I get a butterbeer?"
"One butterbeer coming up."
Tom set it on the bar top and Harry paid for it as he took it. He walked over and sat down at an empty table, not wanting to risk waking anyone else up. He sipped at the frothy, sweet beverage and tried to remember the dream. There had been something different about this one, like another element had been added. However, he could still only recall the heavy darkness and those awful words.
"Harry?"
Harry choked on the bit of drink he had in his mouth when he heard the soft voice. He turned around and found himself looking into Ginny's concerned brown eyes.
"I er...didn't mean to wake you up."
Ginny shook her head quickly. "You didn't. I was already up doing a last assignment and decided I needed to stretch my legs. What about you?"
Harry shrugged. "I was thirsty, and I didn't want to wake anyone else up by going back upstairs."
"Oh, then do you mind if I joined you? We could talk. I know what you must be feeling like. I felt the same after my first year." She looked away, as though ashamed.
Harry gazed at her in surprise, and a little shame himself. The thought someone else could possibly know what he had been going through since the death of Cedric had never crossed his mind. Now, thinking back, he realized that more than just Ginny might understand. Hadn't Sirius expressed his guilt over the death of James Potter, even though he was not directly responsible? Suddenly, he felt a bit lighter. Snape was right, he did think too highly of himself. He grinned at Ginny.
"Thanks, I'd like that." They sat up talking for the rest of the night, about Cedric, about Tom Riddle and about lots of other things, like the fact that Hermione and Ron were writing love letters to each other. Harry had been surprised, but not too much so. He had suspected it last year when Ron had acted so jealous.
They were still up talking when Hermione walked in with her parents. "Wow, you two are up early. Hey Harry did you get your badge yet? I can't believe we all became prefects, I mean with all the rule-breaking and stuff we do. I can't believe Ron didn't say anything in that last letter he wrote me."
"Maybe he had other things on his mind," Ginny remarked sweetly.
Hermione's face went red and she muttered something about needing to get some more cat food for Crookshanks. She walked towards the back of the Leaky Cauldron and disappeared around the corner. Ginny giggled and Harry just grinned.
The rest of the Weasley family came downstairs at about that time, and Harry made up a quick joke to explain why he and Ginny were laughing. Fred and George looked at him oddly and then grinned, but didn't say anything. Ron sat down beside Harry and yawned.
"I could have done with another three hours sleep, but Mum was insistent," he complained, looking around the room, "Hey, d'you know if Hermione's here yet?" He gave Harry and Ginny odd looks when they burst into more laughter. "What?"
They were spared from answering when Hermione herself walked in. Ron's ears and neck went bright red, but he simply waved at her. Fred and George, who had decided to sit on either side of Ginny caught this, had identical grins on their faces. Harry felt a bit sorry for his friend. He was never going to live this down. Mrs. Weasley had noticed as well, but she had a pleased smile on her face. Obviously she approved of her son's relationship.
"Hello, Hermione, did you have a safe trip here?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
"Yes ma'am. I made prefect. I can't believe it. But, then you already knew from reading the prefects list Ron got. I'm sorry to repeat it but I'm just so excited!" Harry and Ron both groaned. Hermione didn't know Ron hadn't told his mother.
Mrs. Weasley's eyes got very big and she turned to her youngest son. "Is...is this true, Ron?"
Ron gulped and nodded. "Er...yes. I was going to tell you but, I was too embarrassed." He looked at her, obviously expecting an explosion.
"Oh Ron, I..." she teared up and hugged him, "I don't know why you'd be embarrassed, but I'm so proud of you!"
"Mum!" Ron complained, his ears going red. He was embarrassed at the show of affection, but Harry knew his friend was secretly pleased. "Harry's one too," he said quickly, and grinned. The hugging and fussing was repeated with Harry.
Everyone began to talk at once, then, about what the new school year was going to be like. No one mentioned the events of last year, though it was on everyone's minds. Harry smiled and thought about the nights events. He was in a way, grateful to the dream that had awakened him. If it hadn't then he would never had had a chance to speak with Ginny and, quite possibly, never have come to the realization that others could understand what he was going through. For the first time in months he was truly happy. He still felt guilty, but now he could live with it. Nothing could spoil this moment.
As they sat talking and laughing, echoes of terrified screaming rang through the empty pub. Mrs. Weasley went white, and told them all to follow Tom. That was all Harry heard, for his scar had begun to burn and the pain was now so bad that all other sensations were cut off. Then, something odd happened. The voice that had haunted his dreams began to speak, only it was speaking normally.
Ignore the pain, my boy. It has served its use and you are forewarned. Now heed its warning. You must not let it take over. You must not die...
The voice faded away, as Harry did as it asked. The pain began to recede, and suddenly he could function again. He had just enough time to see the masks of the death eaters outside before he took off running in the direction he had seen the others take. He jumped as a rough hand grabbed him and pulled him through some sort of trap door, but relaxed when he realized it was just Fred. The chamber he was in was barely lit, but he could still see the angry expressions on his friends' faces.
"Just what do you think you were up to back there?" Hermione hissed, "Going to try playing the hero again? You could have been killed!"
Harry shook his head. "My scar...it hurt so much. I...I think...Voldemort was there. I...couldn't move...then...it told me that I mustn't die...and the pain began to stop..." He began to shake so bad that he couldn't continue.
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