The Other Potter

Chapter 67

"You said you were bringing me here" I said addressing my mother the moment I came back again. "You said that I was drowning, underwater, and that you were bringing me here" I added desperately "Ritchie is saving me but you're the one bringing me here" I angrily stated torn between wanting to just enjoy the time I was getting with my mother and sister, and wanting to make sure that Ritchie lived the life he was supposed to. The life he was going to live before I came into his life and messed everything up.

"That's right" My mother said hesitantly as Casey once again stayed mostly quiet gripping onto one of my hands tightly. "So STOP" I shouted edging closer and closer to a full-blown panic attack. "You stop bringing me here and let Ritchie go back to his life" I added to the shock of Ritchie and my mother.

"I chose this" Ritchie all but yelled at me, however, it didn't change the fact that there was no way in this world that I was letting my best friend...die for me. "I'LL BE OKAY" I yelled "I'll be okay" I repeated more gently allowing the tears that had been building behind my eyes fall.

"I won't" Ritchie said before once again my world went black when he grabbed hold of my hand.

*************

"I swear when this is over I'm petitioning for him to get like a medal or something" Blaise said softly looking at a peaceful Ritchie. "I'll second that notion" Theodore replied from his place next to Blaise at Ritchie's side. "Third" Harry said with a small smile still clutching Ritchie's hand in his.

"Draco?" Theodore asked after a beat when Draco didn't say anything. "Yeah. Fourth" Draco said softly from his place at the foot of the bed. "Or to have him knighted" Draco added almost as an afterthought, surprising the other boys. "Sir Ritchie Coote" Blaise tested it out before laughing slightly. "I like it" Harry said fondly glancing at the boy responsible for keeping his sister alive. "It appears we are all in agreeance" Theodore laughed glancing around at Blaise, Draco, and Harry. Three Slytherin's and a Gryffindor, all getting along. How long could that last for?

If nothing else a peaceful Ritchie didn't last long.

*************

I was expecting a fight when I was brought back next. Was prepared to go toe to toe with Ritchie demanding he not give up his life for me. I was not prepared to see my best friend, my favourite person in the whole world, doubled over on the floor with my mother and sister calling out to him trying to help.

"What is going on?" I asked even though I already knew the answer. "He can't take it much longer" Casey told me bluntly when my mother simply shook her head. "You have to break the link" I demanded grabbing my mother's arm.

"Stop bringing me here" I begged watching as Casey held onto Ritchie as he fought through whatever pain he was experiencing at the moment. "They're so close to finding you" My mother told me dismissing my notion. "If he dies EVERYBODY loses him" I shouted "His friends, HIS FAMILY" I yelled crying, and hurting, and breaking.

"At least If you break the spell he can go back to them and I can be with you" I yelled and had to look away I couldn't stand the heartbreak on my mother's face. "Sarah. Don't" Ritchie gritted out. "I Love you" I told my mother bluntly. "But if you bring me back again, I. Will. Never. Forgive. You" I couldn't stress the point enough.

"I love you" Casey told me with a hug accepting my decision with tears in her eyes and on her cheeks. "I..." My mother choked before pulling me into a brief hug. "I can keep going" Ritchie told me as I neared him. "I choose this" I said gently to my mother before focusing back on Ritchie.

"What about your brothers? Harry and Blaise?" My mother asked in an apparent desperate bid for me to consent to keep putting Ritchie's life in danger. "Nothing is worth this" I gestured to Ritchie and she finally nodded clutching onto Casey.