Disclaimer: I do not own anybody except Cosette King!
Prolouge:
Harry, Hermione, and Ron left the Headmasters office to the sounds of clapping and cheering from the portraits. All three of them trampled down the winding staircase in silence and exhaustion, the after math of not sleeping or resting for two days finally catching up to them. It wasn't until they passed a broken statue of a knight did Harry turn to face his two best friends. Hermione stared around at the wreckage with tear filled eyes and Ron looked down at his feet, a blank and searching look etched on his face. Harry suddenly felt enormous relief spread through him. At this moment in time, he didn't care who had died in the battle. He only cared about the two people standing in front of him, and how they were alive. Hermione and Ron were the only two he cared about right now.
Hermione looked straight into his eyes and rushed to him. She gave him a bone crushing hug, and he hugged back just as tightly, not wanting to let go. Harry heard footsteps and saw Ron heading over to them, tears finally escaping his eyes. Harry let go of Hermione and put an arm around Ron's shoulders, pulling them into a trio hug. A single tear flowed down his ash covered face as they stood there, heads together and arms around each other. He felt Hermione shaking with silent sobs and tightened his grip on her waist.
"We're alive," he whispered to them. "We made it."
They stood there for a minute, or an hour, Harry didn't know, but finally Hermione looked up with red puffy eyes and smiled. "We're alive," she agreed in a strong voice. Ron smiled and took her hand, nodding. He met Harry's eyes and nodded slightly. Harry took Hermione's other hand and lead them to the Great Hall.
The Great Hall was filled with sorrow and misery. Where the teachers usually sat was a makeshift first aid station, while three of the four house tables had been set back up. In the corner where the Slytherin table would be normally, there were the bodies of the fallen. Harry felt his heart ache as he saw the small, limp body of Collin Creevey amongst the row of the dead. Harry had always thought that Collin was a little annoying, yes, but he had risked his life to end the battle that Harry started. He was only sixteen or seventeen. The same age as…
Ginny. Harry spotted her the same time she saw him. Her dirt streaked face was flaked with cuts and dried blood, and her flaming orange hair was pulled back into a braid. Her brown eyes bored into Harry's green eyes, and she hurried over to him. But, instead of flinging herself into Harry's arms, like he was expecting, she hugged Ron with great force that he stumbled backwards, surprised. Ron's arms tightened around his little sister. Hermione caught Harry's eye and the two of them left the brother and sister alone, heading over to the dead.
Harry really didn't want to see who had died. He didn't want to feel the pain in his chest as he stared down at the people he knew and loved, knowing he never got to say goodbye to them. Collin, Fred, Lavender Brown… Harry stopped and sank to his knees in front of the bodies of Remus and Nymphadora Lupin. They had just had a son. Not even two months old and their baby had lost his parents.
But I'm his godfather, Harry thought. Another couple of tears escaped his eyes as the thought crashed over him.
"Harry?" Hermione said in a gentle voice, putting a hand on his shoulder. He looked up and saw fresh tears flowing down her face. Harry stood up and grasped her hand firmly. "Let's go. I think Ron and Ginny have gone to the rest of the Weasley's now…"
They made their way to the Gryffindor table and found all the Weasley's, including Percy, sitting and talking. Hermione let go of Harry's hand and squeezed in between Bill and Ron. Harry stood there, and backed away. He didn't want to intrude in the Weasley's mourning. Hermione could since she was dating Ron, but Harry didn't know what would happen to him and Ginny's relationship. He hoped that they could repair the relationship after the war, but for now, he decided not to interfere. Harry headed back towards the entrance, when something caught his eye. A family was sitting at the edge of the far table, the three of them alone and scared looking. Draco Malfoy looked up and stared at Harry, who was frozen with surprise. What were they still doing here?
Harry walked slowly over to that table and stopped behind the back of Lucius Malfoy. Narcrissa looked up and her grey eyes looked frightened.
"Potter," Malfoy said quietly and his father whipped around. Lucius had a dangerous look on his face, but Harry didn't flinch. He stood in the same spot, glaring back.
"Well, this is a… surprise. What brings the 'Chosen One' to our midst?" Lucius hissed. Several families, including the Weasley's were staring avidly at Harry and the Malfoy's, waiting.
"I just wanted to say something to your wife," Harry replied coldly. He turned his head toward Narcrissa, who cringed back slightly. "Thank you.
"Thank you? Thank you?" Ron asked crediusly an hour later in the Gryffindor common room. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were the only ones in there, sitting in the chairs by the fire which they had numerously claimed over the past seven years while doing homework. Harry had just finished telling the two of them what had happened between the Malfoy's and him. "That family was the closest family to Voldemort, held us captive at their house, and you say thank you?"
Harry rolled his eyes. "Yes, Ron, I said thank you. Narcrissa saved me in the forest. She could've told all the Death Eaters that I was still alive, but she didn't-"
"Yeah, to save her son's skin!"
"Ron, I think Harry did the right thing. Narcrissa could've easily reported that Harry was still alive and he wouldn't be here if she had done that," Hermione scolded. Ron gave an outraged look at her, but dropped it. "Harry, are you alright? You should get some rest. We all should."
"I'm fine. You two go ahead. I'll be up in a while," Harry lied. He wanted more time to think about everything: How Snape was in love with his mother, Ginny, if he was going to return to Hogwarts the next year or not, if there was going to be Hogwarts next year… He waited until he heard the door shut to the dorm room before he stood and walked out of the portrait hole. It's not like he didn't want to talk to his best friends, but some things are better left to ponder by yourself.
Harry walked up and up until he reached the Room of Requirement. He doubted it would work after the cursed fire, but he tried.
I have to get away. I have to get away. I have to get away, He thought while walk past where the door usually appeared three times. Harry heard the familiar sound of the door materializing and looked around. Sure enough, there stood a door tall enough so that it was an inch above Harry's head and wide enough so he could get through. He hesitantly went up to, checked to make sure he wasn't being followed, and opened the door. The room was dark, but as soon as he thought it, the room light up with invisible candles. Harry caught his breath. The wall to his right was one long book case filled to the top with thin and large books, while the rest were red and gold. A fireplace was on the wall directly ahead of him, chairs and a couch around it. Harry walked right up to the chair nearest the fire and settled down on it. It was a comfortable chair, and Harry felt his muscles loosen up and relax as he sank down in cushions. Alone at last. He smiled at the thought, and then plunged into a deep sleep.
"Where have you been?!" Hermione yelled at him when he entered the common room the next day at five in the afternoon. Harry flinched. Again, he, Hermione and Ron, who was observing the scene in the background, were the only ones in the common room. Everybody else had either gone home or were down in the Great Hall eating or still mourning.
"I- I just accidently fell asleep while taking a walk," Harry said weakly. He didn't want to fight. He had woken up in cold sweat an hour ago, after having a dream about being chased by the dead he had loved. Their murderous faces still haunted his vision even now, and Bellatrix's laughter after killing his godfather two years back still rang in his ears.
"We thought you had left during the night or worst, have been kidnapped by a rouge Death Eater," Hermione said fearfully. She looked on the verge of tears. Harry went straight up to her and hugged her, which surprised Hermione. Harry felt her arms wrap around his waist and heard her sigh. "Where were you?"
"In the Room of Requirement. I had to get some space for awhile," he mumbled back, letting go of her. She wiped away a tear and sniffled. Ron came over hurriedly and took her hand, shooting Harry a look.
"Just… just tell us next time you decide to roam off. Leave a note or something, okay?" Hermione asked. Harry nodded, and together, went down to the Great Hall.
"Harry, dear," Mrs. Weasley said at once when he sat down next to Ginny, who refused to look at him. "How did you sleep last night?" Her eyes were still tinted with red and there were bags under eyes, but her smile was as warm and inviting as usual.
"Fine, Mrs. Weasley," Harry answered politely before scooping some kidney steak pie onto his plate. "Where are Percy and Bill?"
"Oh, helping Minerva and Kingsley get stuff into order, no doubt," she replied stiffly. Mr. Weasley squeezed her shoulders and went back to reading the Daily Prophet. George sat on Harry's other side, staring at his untouched plate of food with dead eyes. Harry felt dread flood through him. This was the first time he had actually seen George without Fred. Even when George had lost his ear, Fred was there beside him, making jokes about it and smiling next to his twin. Now, that will never be true again. "Georgie, you need to eat something before it gets cold."
"I'm not hungry mum," George said in a monotone voice, something Harry had never heard in his life. He stared at George, and then to Ginny, who had tears in her eyes. Their gazes met and for a moment, it felt normal. Then, Ginny got up and hugged her brother George. Harry looked down at his pie and started eating, feeling a little uncomfortable being here. He felt like an intruder in their lives now, and he didn't want to be that kind of person. Hermione must have felt the same way, for she was also looking down awkwardly. "Harry?"
Harry looked up, startled. He looked at Mr. Weasley, thinking he was the one who said his name, but he shook his head. Harry then turned to his right and saw George looking straight at him, fresh tears rolling down his cheeks.
"Walk with me?" George asked quietly. Harry nodded, and they both stood up. George marched toward the doors and out into the entrance hall. Harry hurried along beside him, struggling to keep up on his sore legs.
George had chosen Harry over his family to walk with him. Why? He could've chosen Ron, or Ginny, or Percy even, since he was the one that actually saw Fred die. But Harry didn't want to point this out to George. It would only make him cry even more, or go into a rage at Harry for bringing it up.
They were all the way by the edge of the lake when George stopped walking. Harry nearly ran into him, he was so deep in thought about what would happen next. Harry stared out into the lake, remembering the Triwizard Tournament, the faces of the merpeople that lived in the depths of that lake…
"Thank you, Harry," George whispered so softly, that his voice carried in the slight breeze blowing around them.
"Sorry?" Harry asked.
"Thank you," George said a little more loudly than before. "Percy told me what you did with Fred's body."
"Oh." Harry vaguely remembered putting Fred's body where a suit of armor was supposed to stand. The thought caused him pain, still seeing Fred's last laugh frozen on his face. The first time Percy had joked in his life. Fred had gotten to see that. "I couldn't leave him in the middle of the wreckage, and Percy wouldn't leave without him."
"Mainly all of our family owes our lives to you, Harry: Ginny, dad, Ron, and now Fred does. And I plan on making it up to you for him," George claimed in a stronger voice. The emptiness had left his eyes, replaced by a darker look that Harry wished he would never see on George's face ever again. The hole where his ear had been cursed off even seemed darker than it was five minutes ago. Harry felt scared at that moment.
"You… you don't have to, George. You guys are like my family. That's what family does, right?" Harry asked hesitantly, not wanting to set off George. George gave him a blazing look, causing Harry to flinch back.
"You will never be part of the Weasley family. Not even if you and Ginny marry. You don't belong with us," George said coldly. Harry started backing up away from George, but the twin lunged and Harry was knocked down on the ground. He felt a rough hand clasp around his throat and he gasped for air. Harry kicked and struggled against George's firm grasp. He faintly heard screaming, a girl yelling his name, then he blacked out.
