Work Text:
The Courtyard
I, like the rest of the people who had swarmed out of the ruins of the school, were staring across the courtyard at the group that had just entered the grounds.
At its head was The Dark Lord – a truly imposing figure, cloaked in shadow even at the brightest point of the morning. He strode into the courtyard as if he had nothing to fear, which I had to admit wasn’t far from the truth.
But, like the rest of the group that surrounded me, it wasn’t The Dark Lord that drew my focus. Because a few yards behind him, Hagrid – the giant groundskeeper – was stood with his head hanging down. And in his arms………
I blinked, not believing what I was seeing.
HARRY POTTER” The Dark Lord’s voice echoed to every corner of the courtyard, and if there had been any conversation, any chatter, any noise at all, he would have silenced it. But all noise had died away the moment we had seen the body in Hagrid’s arms “IS DEAD!”
A ripple of disbelief, of shock, of despair ran though the group.
But all I could think was “is he buggery”
I’d seen him asleep enough times to know what he looked like when he was asleep – the way his eyebrows crinkled, and his lips turned up slightly as if he had a secret no one else knew – and I’d seen him lying unconscious in the hospital wing enough times to know what he looked like when he was passed out.
And I’d seen him when he was faking sleep – when he was lying in bed waiting for me, pretending to be asleep – to know the signs when I saw them.
The body that was in Hagrid’s arms wasn’t dead. And it wasn’t unconscious – I was pretty sure of that.
The body that was in Hagrid’s arms – the body I knew so well, the body I had explored every inch of and knew almost better than my own – was the body of someone who was waiting for the right moment to escape. To break free and start the final battle.
“Your hero is dead” The Dark Lord continued “To fight on – to give your lives in a doomed cause – would be a waste. So if you wish to join me, and spare any further bloodshed, come to me now”
I wasn’t surprised to see that no one moved, but if I could get closer to him – to let him know I knew – then perhaps I could help.
Taking a deep breath, I stepped out of the group I was in, out of the crowd of people.
With a quick glance at Granger – who gave me an almost imperceptible nod – I threw my shoulders back, and started to walk across the gap between the two armies.
It seemed to take an eternity to reach the other side, but moments later I walked past Hagrid, and under my breath I whispered “Give me fifteen dolphins, then make your move”
xoxox
“HARRY POTTER IS DEAD”
In my mind I could see how they would react. Ginny would be horrified, Hermione would be broken, Ron would shut down, Luna would be her usual self.
Only he wouldn’t believe it. He would know that I wasn’t dead. He had seen me pretending to sleep too many times not to recognize what I was doing now.
And after what I’d told his mother, I knew he would come over to the other side. Hermione would understand – she may not understand what I saw in him, but she trusted in the strength of our love, and in the strength of our friendship, and that I wasn’t good at using English to express what I mean – and she’d understand when he came over to join his parents.
I kept my breathing steady and calm. If I suddenly held my breath, it might become obvious that I wasn’t dead. And if I suddenly started breathing heavily it would definitely be more obvious.
It only took about seven seconds longer than I thought it would before I heard his voice – his soft, gentle voice.
“Give me fifteen dolphins, then make your move”
I resisted the urge to laugh, and instead just gave the tiniest of nods. Then I started counting in my head.
I could hear his voice, although I wasn’t sure what was being said, then I could hear a few other voices, but again the dialogue was almost inaudible.
When I reached the fifteenth dolphin, I mentally drew in all the breath I could, then I rolled out of Hagrid’s arms, and raised my wand
xoxox
“Sweetheart!” My mother pulled me into a hug, holding me close “You’re alive”
“I am, mother” I nodded, hugging her back. Four dolphins. I glanced up at my father “Father”
“Son” He nodded back, then looked over to where the Longbottom boy was making a speech. Nine dolphins. It was nearly time.
“If you’re going to leave, you should go now” I said. Twelve dolphins “It’s nearly time”
“Time for what, my son?” My father asked, but before I could reply, my mental clock ticked over, and without realizing it, I turned, already knowing what I would see.
xoxox
Voldemort stared in disbelief as Harry Potter – apparently alive and well and ready to fight – leaped out of Hagrid’s arms and raised his arms.
“TAKE HEART, MEN OF GONDOR!” Potter yelled, and then he smiled as – from behind him – a voice replied.
“TAKE HEART, MEN OF ROHAN!” Draco Malfoy replied.
A moment later, the two boys vanished in twin apparition traces, leaving Voldemort staring in shock at where the Malfoy boy had been stood.
xoxox
Harry and Draco reappeared on the other side of the castle.
“So, Potter” Draco gazed at him “Not dead?”
“Not dead yet” Harry smiled “But the day’s young” He leaned forward and gave Draco a soft kiss “Take care – I’d hate to lose you”
“Take care” Draco smiled back “I’d hate to be lost”
“I’ll see you when I see you” Harry replied, then he turned and vanished on the spot. Draco stared at the place his boyfriend had stood.
“Merlin protect fools, heroes and boys named Potter” He whispered, then he turned and walked into the castle.