RENDED HEART
"What do we do now?" whispered Harry.
"Get something to eat?" Ron replied. Hermione snorted and stood up.
"I don't think Harry was referring to that," Hermione replied.
Ron shot Hermione an annoyed look and responded, "I know that. I just meant that . . . "
Harry cut him off, "That's enough Ron. I don't think I can handle the two of you bickering for the rest of the term. I'm hungry too. Let's go down and eat." Harry stood up and led the way out of the Headmasters office.
"We're not bickering," Hermione started. "We're just wondering . . . "
"I know Hermione," Harry said. "I just never made plans for . . . afterward, you know."
Hermione looked mortified. "I'm sorry Harry; I didn't mean to be pushy."
"Its okay 'Mione, I'm just not looking forward to facing all the people in the Great Hall and I'm worried about . . . ," Harry's voice trailed off. Hermione and Ron glanced at each other behind his head. Ron mouthed 'Ginny' to Hermione. Hermione considered this for a brief moment, glancing away from Ron to hide her face momentarily. Shaking her head, she finally looked back up at Ron, who was watching her closely and said quietly, "Fred."
Ron's face fell and he nodded.
Harry came to a stop at the entrance to the Great Hall and looked back at his two best friends. The two people that he trusted more than anyone else in the world stared back at him offering silent encouragement. Hermione stepped up next to Harry and grabbed one hand. Reaching back to Ron, she took his hand also and together, they stepped through the entrance.
The Great Hall was packed. A low murmur of conversation permeated the room as families, teachers, and friends quietly discussed the night's events or in too many cases just held grieving loved ones. The far wall had a large table down the long length of the room. On the table and on the floor beneath it were shrouded shapes that were instantly identifiable as bodies.
The staff table to the left was empty. The teachers that remained were in a cluster in front of the table quietly going over what needed to be done immediately and what could be put off till tomorrow. Professor McGonagall and Flitwick seemed to be the two doing the most talking. There were other people hanging around the group of teachers obviously waiting on the decisions that were being made.
The four house tables were packed with students, families, friends, Aurors and the few remaining operatives from the Order of the Phoenix. The Slytherin table had more Aurors than the other three house tables. Harry could see at least 12 Death Eaters, including Lucius Malfoy, his wife Narcissa, and their son Draco. Lucius Malfoy had the undivided attention of at least three Aurors. His wife and son were making do with just one Auror apiece. All three Malfoy's were in a full Body Bind hex and taking a closer look, Harry realized the remaining Death Eaters were similarly incarcerated. As they walked past the Aurors started herding the prisoners towards the entrance after relaxing the full body bind.
The Ravenclaw house table held students and their families on the end closest to the staff table, but the opposite end of the table had clusters of Healers working on injured Witches and Wizards.
It was the Gryffindor table that Harry, Hermione, and Ron headed to. The crowd at the end had predominantly red hair he thought with a small smile. Arthur Weasley sat at the end directly across from his wife Molly. Molly was holding George who sat next to her. Charlie, Bill and Percy sat in a row next to Arthur. Ginny sat next to George and Neville Longbottom was beside her. The Sword of Godric Gryffindor was laid on the table in front of him. Neville had both arms wrapped around Ginny and Ginny was leaning on his shoulder with one arm around him with her eyes closed. Her other hand was holding George's up on the table in front of a pitcher of chilled pumpkin juice.
Harry stopped. His eyes were locked on Ginny . . . in another man's arms. The small flame of hope that had flared into existence early that morning died. He felt the blood draining from his face and knew that if he had a mirror in front of him right that second, he would look white as a ghost. Hermione gasped as his hand clenched down on hers. Harry's stomach heaved and he gulped desperately to keep everything down.
Arthur and Molly Weasley looked up upon hearing Hermione. Arthur's face was red and Hermione could tell it was from barely restrained anger. Molly just looked devastated and . . . disappointed. Hermione watched closely as Molly looked at Ron. She was obviously cataloging any injuries. Ron had called that look the 'Molly Look.' It took only a few seconds and she shifted to Hermione, nodded almost imperceptibly, and then moved on to Harry. Her face fell as she gazed at him. She gave a small sigh and stood up.
Ginny finally opened her eyes as she felt Molly leave the table. She looked up and placed a small kiss on Neville's cheek and then looked around. Her three brothers sitting across from her were still glaring at her. The news she had given them earlier still had them extremely agitated. George hadn't even reacted to the news. Nothing seemed to be able to break through the grief he felt from the loss of his twin brother Fred. Looking further to the right, her heart sunk at the expression on her father's face. It was only then that she saw Ron, Hermione, and . . . Harry.
He looked . . . broken. Her heart dropped and she closed her eyes to block out the pain she saw radiating outward from his eyes. The once brilliant emerald green eyes were dull. His face was ashen and he was obviously fighting within himself to regain some control. Then her view was blocked as Molly Weasley stepped up to the three and gathered them up in a patented 'Molly Hug'.
Neville looked down at Ginny. She was shaking and he could feel her arm pulling tighter around him as she fought off crying. Neville pulled her close and whispered in her ear, "Don't worry, I won't leave you." Ginny nodded into his shoulder and refused to look up. She just held on tighter and he squeezed her back to reassure her.
Molly finally let the three go after whispering into Harry's ear, "Don't worry Harry. Arthur and I will always be here for you."
"Can I have your attention please," Professor McGonagall's amplified voice rang out.
Harry, Hermione, and Ron turned away from the table to face the Professor while Molly sat back down to place her arm around George again. Hermione released Harry's hand only to grab him around the waist after they turned around. He felt stiff and unyielding. She reached out again with her other hand to grab Ron's hand too.
The noise in the Great Hall gradually subsided till the only sound was a quiet murmur from the Healers tending their patients at the Ravenclaw table.
"Thank you everyone." Professor McGonagall said. "I've got a few announcements to make and it should only take a few minutes. First, I want to invite everyone here to join your children in their respective houses for at least a few days whilst we get repairs to our school started. Second, the Great Hall will be closed for the next few days, so meals will be served buffet style in the house common rooms. Our Hogwarts House Elves are re-arranging the furniture to provide everyone with a place to sleep. Meals will be available in the common rooms in about one hour. Anyone with injuries, however minor, please see Madam Pomfrey in the hospital wing or the Healers here in the Great Hall. All of the serious cases have already been transferred to St. Mungo's, so do not feel that there are other's more in need of help. I want everyone to get checked out no matter how minor you may think your injury is. On another note, classes will be suspended until further notice."
Professor McGonagall paused until the few cheering students died down. "Hermione Granger, Ronald Weasley, and Harry Potter please join me up here."
The Trio glanced at one another and slowly made their way to the staff table.
Professor McGonagall smiled at them and then continued, "These three outstanding students up here are in large part responsible for the victory here today. Most of the details of what they have accomplished over the last nine months will remain forever a secret. I am allowed to tell you only this. The mission these three accomplished was absolutely vital to the final defeat of Lord Voldemort. If they had failed, nothing that happened here today would have been possible." The applause that started then was thunderous and didn't stop until long after Professor McGonagall held her hands up requesting silence.
Professor McGonagall continued, "I have spoken with Kingsley Shacklebolt earlier today. Kingsley has been named Interim Minister for Magic by the Wizengamot until such a time as a permanent Minister can be finalized. Minister Shacklebolt has been fully briefed on the mission our three heroes up here accomplished. Per Kingsley, and a select few members of the Wizengamot, these three will be receiving the Order of Merlin, First Class for outstanding service and valor." The applause this time was even louder. It went on until Harry, Hermione, and Ron thought the roof would cave in under the assault of noise.
When it was finally quiet again, Professor McGonagall spoke once more, "I will ask that these three be left in peace for at least 24 hours so that they can get some well deserved rest. It's been a long night and I'm sure that everyone here is as exhausted as I am. Food will be available in the house common rooms shortly. I recommend that everyone here adjourn and get at least 12 hours of sleep. I would like to see everyone on the front lawn tomorrow at eleven o'clock."
Ron quickly whispered to Hermione, "I'm going to find out what's up from Mum and Dad. Don't let Harry out of your sight. Remember what we talked about earlier." Hermione nodded and Ron headed back over to the Gryffindor table.
Professor McGonagall spoke up, "Hermione, Harry, don't leave just yet."
"Yes ma'am," Hermione replied while looking at Harry with a frown. Harry was starting to tremble. Hermione leaned into Harry's side and slid an arm around his waist again. She held him while the crowd in the Great Hall started to disperse and Professor McGonagall held a short, hurried conference with the remaining teachers. When she was done, she hurried back over to Harry and Hermione with a small smile.
During this entire time, Harry kept his face pointed down at the floor and refused to meet anyone's eyes. Only when Professor McGonagall called his name as she walked up did he look up. Professor McGonagall flinched at the expression on his face. She had never seen anyone with that much anguish showing. She started to say something when Harry's eye's blinked and his face changed to show only polite interest to the outside world again. Professor McGonagall started to say something again only to stop at the expression on Hermione's face. After a few seconds of intense silence and a frantic look from Hermione, she decided to let it go. She held out both hands to Harry and Hermione, obviously with something in both hands and Harry and Hermione reached out to accept it.
Professor McGonagall dropped the badges in each hand and spoke quietly, "Our previous Head Girl and Head Boy are now in Ministry Custody. I and the rest of the teachers have met and agreed that you two should be the new Head Boy and Girl till the end of this term. Please accept these as a token of our appreciation for all you have done here over the last seven years. Hermione, do you know how to activate them?"
"Yes ma'am." Hermione answered quietly. "I'll show Harry too."
"Professor," Harry spoke for the first time.
"Yes Harry?"
"Neville Longbottom has the Sword of Godric Gryffindor. I need it."
Professor McGonagall blanched. Putting a sword into his hands right now horrified her.
"What do you need the sword for Harry?"
"To fulfill a promise we made to the Goblins in exchange for their help in destroying one of the Horcruxes," Harry replied quietly. "Would you please retrieve it from Neville and tell him he did a great job on Voldemort's snake. I have to return the sword to the Goblins tomorrow or maybe the day after. I gave them my word on it."
"Harry, that sword belongs to the school. I can't just give it to you to give away."
"Then contact the Board of Governors, explain what you can and tell them I will buy the sword from the school so that I can keep my promise. Without the Goblins help, we would have lost this war," Harry replied quietly.
Professor McGonagall was silent for a minute while she considered the problem. "Okay, Harry, I'll do it. I will let you know what I find out as soon as possible. Now why don't you and Hermione go check out your dorm rooms, eat and get some sleep."
Hermione released Harry as they turned around to leave and Harry looked up to see Ginny and Neville leaving the table. Ginny glanced up and caught his eye and then buried her head into Neville's shoulder as they headed to the main doors. Harry stopped, unable to deal with the emotions cascading through him.
Hermione stopped behind Harry as he stood there and watched as he slowly went to his knees. She could see his body trembling and rushed forward to comfort him, only to bounce off as a shield flared into existence around Harry. Landing on her bum, Hermione's jaw dropped. The shield around Harry was impossible. All of the shields she was familiar with only protected from one direction. This shield clearly surrounded Harry completely and was growing brighter as she watched in dismay. The shield was also tinged red and that scared her. In most cases the color of the shields represented the emotions of the wizard or witch casting them. In addition to all that, Harry was now floating a few inches above the floor as the shield levitated him into the air.
For his part, Harry was completely unaware of the shield around him. Kneeling down, unable to look up, he desperately wanted to be alone. Raging through him, the desolation and destruction of his dreams was too much. He couldn't deal with this anymore. No one wanted him. His first love wanted someone else and his second choice obviously didn't want anything to do with him. Everything that he had been through was all for nothing. He felt nothing anymore, just a cold emptiness that had the tears flowing down his face like a dam finally bursting.
Slowly struggling to his feet, he pulled his wand out and held it at his side. 'I can't stay here' he thought. 'I have to get away, they got what they needed from me and now they're done with me'. Finally looking up to get his bearings, Harry saw the Weasley's all staring at him. Closing his eyes, Harry spun on the spot and did something thought impossible. His departure blew out every window in Hogwarts as he Apparated Out of the Great Hall.
Hermione sat there on the floor, stunned, looking at the spot Harry had just disappeared from. The 'Crack' of Harry's departure was still reverberating around the Great Hall when she lunged to her feet screaming, "No!" Grabbing her wand, Hermione quickly muttered, "Revilio Apara Trace." A Technicolor swirl of light sprang into sharp relief and Hermione studied it carefully. The light trace of swirls had six rings around the spot Harry had just left with a definite bulge on one side. Quickly, Hermione copied the Apparation signature and let the trace dissipate.
Professor Flitwick and McGonagall moved into Hermione's line of sight with dumbfounded expressions.
"Did we really see Six Rings?" Professor McGonagall asked quietly.
Hermione nodded as the sobs finally came.
Running up, Ron asked, "What do six rings mean?"
Professor Flitwick answered the question with a slight tremor of awe. "The spell Hermione cast can normally give you the direction of the apparition, the number of rings signifies the power put into it and consequently, how far of a jump the trip is. Normally, a local jump won't show any rings, while a jump to Hogsmeade would show one very weak ring. A jump to London would show two rings. I've never heard of any being over two rings. Most wizards can only Apparate a maximum distance of about two hundred kilometers. No one that I've ever heard of can Apparate Internationally. Judging by the Apparition Trace Hermione just showed us, Harry can probably Apparate anywhere on the planet in one jump."
"And that means, that he could be anywhere," Hermione wailed. "We'll never be able to find him."
Professor McGonagall gathered up Hermione in a hug as Professor Flitwick moved forward muttering. The trace sprang back into existence again but this time with a superimposed globe of the planet. The trace started shrinking and a straight line speared out from the center of the trace to intersect with the bulge and the line extended past the bulge. As the trace shrank, the line glowed brighter until the trace was too small to see as it centered itself on Hogwarts. The line from the trace however, went through the globe and came out near the bottom. Squatting down, Professor Flitwick, examined the globe and looked up at Professor McGonagall. He squeaked, "Australia! Brisbane, Australia!"
Hermione's eyes went wide, "My parents!"