Bab 125: Chapter 125: Alive!
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"Where's Hermione?" Harry demands, not bothering to greet our Head of House.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Potter, but Professor Dumbledore escorted her away shortly after she arrived," Professor McGonagall says with a frown.
Harry is livid. "But Professor—!"
"No buts, Mr. Potter. Seeing as you were only concerned for your classmate, I shall not deduct points from any of you, but I insist the three of you return to your dormitory." Her normal stern expression fades.
"And please do try to get some sleep; it wouldn't do to have to face the Second Task on too little rest."
Harry looks like he wants to protest, but Ron places a hand on his shoulder and gives a barely perceptible shake of his head.
Thankfully the pass provided by Professor McGonagall meant that we didn't have to do the painful crouch-walk, from which I still had not recovered.
The Fat Lady started to scold us until we showed her the pass, after which she huffed and started muttering under her breath as she opened for us.
Harry flashed the pass toward the Prefects who looked up at our entrance, and we went straight to our room.
"What are we going to do?" Harry asked, voice hard.
"She'll be okay, Harry," I say in what I hope is a comforting voice. "Just stick with the plan and you'll have her back in no time."
"You won't fail in this, Harry," Neville says confidently. "You never do."
Ron nods vigorously. "They've got the right of it, mate, Hermione will be fine. Let's get some sleep."
Despite my confidence in Harry's abilities, it takes me a long time to fall asleep. Before Dean and Seamus even come in Ron is already snoring loudly.
Some time later I open my eyes and see Harry sitting up, staring at the window. With a small groan I hoist myself up and head over.
"Can't sleep either?" I ask quietly.
He frowns and shakes his head.
"Can't blame you. I'm not even the one competing and I still can't sleep. Your dream ward isn't dead, is it?"
Harry shakes his head but doesn't speak right away. He takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly.
"Ward's fine. Great, even. It's just that Hermione has been my best friend for over three years. I know it's because of all that stuff we've gotten into together, but I hate that it keeps happening. Hasn't she done enough? She doesn't deserve this." As he speaks the whisper becomes more heated.
"No, but then, nobody does. You certainly don't deserve the hell you've been put through." I also take a deep breath.
"You guys do your damnedest to keep each other safe, that's the important part. It won't always be possible to be safe, but as long as you stick together, you're already sticking it to Riddle. He doesn't have anybody, and he doesn't want you to have anybody either. But you do, and that's why you're stronger than he is."
Harry looks at me a moment, expression unreadable. "That's pretty sad, when you think about it."
I nod. "Yeah. It is...pitiful, too. But while the child he once was may deserve your pity, he doesn't deserve any mercy, now. He is too far gone for redemption...not even Dumbledore would argue that." I chuckle grimly.
"Actually, he probably would. I suppose that's why Grindelwald is still alive in Nurmengard."
"He is?" Harry asks incredulously.
"He is. I think the difference is that Grindelwald actually wanted political power, and he thought his ideas were right. Riddle doesn't even care. Actually, he knows he's wrong, since he's a half-blood himself. He's just addicted to power, and no amount of it will ever be enough."
Harry silently processes that. "How do you fight someone like that?"
A rhetorical question, so I don't answer it. The prophecy gave him the answer anyway: Riddle just has to die. Simple as that, right? With any luck he won't have to worry about Riddle himself for much longer.
"What's this, William Lerner doesn't have any ideas?" Harry asks with a hint of playfulness.
I snort. "Of course I do, I'm conscious, aren't I? I come up with ideas in my sleep."
"Well, how about it then?"
Oh, I guess he did want an answer. "Well every day that you're alive is an insult to him. Any time you're happy or even content only adds to that insult. Your situation sucks, to be sure, but not being able to afford to worry about the long-term has its plus sides."
"You fight by pouring all your energy into tackling one challenge after another, starting with pulling Hermione out of the Lake tomorrow. You don't even have to be quick about it; who cares if that ass Karkaroff gives you a zero?"
"Hell, you don't even have to get Hermione, she'll be fine. Just be on the lookout for real danger and get through tomorrow, then you'll have bested that challenge and you're on to the next one."
Harry turns toward me and considers that for several moments before he nods determinedly. "Thanks, William. I suppose I should try to lay down again."
I yawn widely at the mention of sleep. "I could try hitting you with a Stunner, or maybe a spell of my own to put you to sleep."
Harry chuckles quietly. "No offense, but I'd like to make sure I can wake up in time tomorrow."
"That is a wise decision. For both of us, I mean. I wouldn't be surprised if it just bounced right off of you and knocked me out right here on the floor. 'Night Harry."
"G'night, Will."
Surprisingly, despite the lack of a normal night's sleep, I awaken a solid hour and a half before the Task is scheduled to start.
I'm glad to see Harry is still asleep when I slip out of bed to take a shower, in which I soak for a good long time, thinking about the next few months.
Right now I'm assuming that we can't figure out how to remove the Horcrux from Harry, though if that works it makes my job a lot easier. If it goes how I think, then...well...
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