This is going to be an edited version to the story. Stick with it, as I hope to be updating each of the chapters in quick succession. The previous chapters were decent, but I'm going to rewriting parts to make it flow together nicely. Its an update that was a long time coming. I hope you enjoy! Reviews are always welcome
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Harry sat quietly at the bottom of the grand staircase, taking in the destruction that surrounded him. Paintings were ripped and hanging limply in their frames, their occupants standing in neighboring frames, waiting for rescue. Rubble lay around him on all sides, and he kicked a piece of stone in front of him. Around the Entrance Hall, Harry watched some students moving pieces of rock about and trying to collect the stones from the house points counter. Ministry officials were struggling to magic the doors back on, and Harry could see people milling about outside.
A laugh echoed from inside the Great Hall. Harry was glad people could laugh again. He wasn't sure he would anytime soon. Maybe one day, but he was too exhausted mentally and physically to muster any real kind of emotion. He could see Ginny and Luna talking to a group of Hufflepuffs. He took some comfort in knowing that maybe now he and Ginny could continue where they had left off at the beginning of the year, without any kind of major disruption. Maybe their relationship would just take its own course, but he didn't mind. Now he could live his life according to his own rules, and not have to be guided by what was expected of him. No more prophecy, no more Chosen One. Just Harry and the life he chose to live.
It still hadn't sunk in that he would never have to deal with Voldemort again. Harry had spent seven years of his life fighting him, and from now on he would never have to see old snake face again. The range of emotions he was feeling today were battling each other in his mind, and relief was certainly mixed with grief. Is was too soon to imagine what his life would come to look like in the coming years, but a nice nap was certainly in his future. Not yet though. It was too soon to fall into the world of dreams.
His dream of a quiet moment was rudely interrupted by a burst of angry yelling.
"How many times do I have to tell you Ron? It didn't mean anything and I'm not sure why you're making a big deal of it. Why can't you just believe me for once in your life!"
Everyone in the entrance hallway looked up at the sound coming from the staircase. Harry sighed. What Ron and Hermione could be bickering about now was beyond him. As a newly minted couple, shouldn't they be happy? Apparently he was wrong.
"I don't know Hermione. Maybe it's because I saw something in his eyes that told me a different story! I don't like him."
Harry craned his head a round to find Hermione racing down the steps, with Ron following close behind with a deeply red face. Hermione spotted Harry first. "Harry! What are you doing here? Why aren't you resting?" Her face showed concern at his weary appearance. He just shrugged.
"I wanted to see if I could help, but no one wants me to. They said I'd done enough."
Ron grinned at him. "Geez mate! Why help when you just defeated the most evil wizard ever? You should have people running around trying to keep you happy. Oi! You!" he shouted at a passing Ravenclaw. "The wizarding saviour is hungry. Go grab us some of those sandwiches from the Great Hall!"
The boy looked at Harry and jumped at the request, turning back around and heading into the Hall. Ron grinned. "Excellent! I'm starving!"
Hermione gave him a glare. "Really Ronald, people shouldn't be waiting on Harry hand and foot. And you shouldn't take advantage of it either. I'm sure if he wanted a sandwich he could get one. I imagine he wants everything to go back to normal, and by treating him differently, that can't really happen. But I think it would be best if you take it easy for a while. Your body is coming down from a lot of adrenaline. Isn't that right Harry?"
Harry just shrugged again. "I'm sure it is. It's kind of nice not having to do anything. My whole body feels like if I stand up I would quickly end up here." He pointed at the staircase where he sat. "Im actually quite content here for a while."
He looked at Hermione's stern yet concerned face and changed the subject before she could lecture him on why he should currently be asleep.
"So, what were you two fighting about? I thought you two would be happy now." The death look Hermione shot Ron told Harry that he was wrong.
"I was helping with some of the injuries and clean up in the hospital wing. I was working with Oliver Wood, and I tripped over some rubble on the floor. He caught me and Ron was just walking in at the time." Hermione explained. "Now he thinks that I'm having some kind of mad love affair when I've barely spoken to him before!"
She was clearly exasperated with the whole notion, yet Ron scoffed at her remarks. "It looked more than friendly to me. His hand placement was a little too friendly if you ask me! Now that we're dating, shouldn't I want to be protective?"
Hermione looked as if she was going to viciously attack him. "Really! Do you think I need protection from every guy who looks my way from now on?! What kind of person do you think I am that I need protecting? Would you appreciate it if anytime a girl looked at you or talked to you I made it into a major fight!"
Ron was very clearly in the wrong, and Harry wondered why he would have perceived Oliver to be a threat. Hermione and Wood never spoke to each other when he was in school, so why would Ron think she would be attracted to him when only hours ago they had finally started into a relationship that was clearly years in the making? Hermione was seething, and Ron did not seem ready to concede anytime soon.
"I think I should have a say in who you hang out with and who manhandles you!" Ron yelled back at her. It was this that made Harry stop. Surely Ron did not think he needed to have this level of control over Hermione. Something was clearly wrong here and whatever was happening was doing some irreparable damage. Everyone in the Great Hall was now focusing all their attention on the argument, and even people from outside and the upper floors were peering in on the fight.
At this point Hermione was in tears of anger, her face red. Harry could almost feel the heat of anger radiating from her.
"I am not property to be dictated to about what I can and cannot do! How dare you insinuate that you get a say in what I do. Are you going to tell me that I can't hang out with Harry because he may make a pass at me too?!"
Ron paused and looked down at Harry. "Harry wouldn't, would you mate?"
Hermione pounced before Harry had the chance to respond. "Harry, don't you dare get involved in this! This is between the two of us!"
Ron's face turned a red that matched his brilliant hair. "I want to know what Harry thinks!"
Harry tried to open his mouth, but Hermione beat him to it. "I know you'll just take his side anyways, so just keep your mouth shut!" He gawked at her, but a chill passed through him as he became angry at her for telling him what to do, when that was far from what he intended to do.
"Don't just assume that I would take his side! I think he's bang out of order! Don't think that I wouldn't stand up for you too!" Harry snapped.
Hermione looked ashamed for a moment, but something flickered in her eyes that Harry didn't recognize. It was after this that she rounded on him.
"You always take his side, so why would it be any different now! Ive never been important in this relationship and you've only needed me when you required something! All I was was a walking encyclopedia and not someone you could rely on. I know you and Ron make fun of me for being who I am."
This argument was taking a wildly different direction than was expected, and everyone surrounding the Trio was quickly growing worried by the behaviour that was being exhibited. No one had ever hear the three of them fight like this, and the reason behind it all seemed strange. Harry jumped to his feet, now on equal footing with the others.
"Hermione, you've always been important to me! Why would you think that?" Harry said with a hurt expression. How could she think that she was nothing more than someone who could use her brain and not be someone to be relied on for other things too.
"Now you're just being stupid," Harry growled. "We would never have made it this far without you. You're extremely important to me and you know I love you. Why you would think you're not as important to me as Ron is, that's beyond me. You don't have to stay if you don't think you're wanted"
It was at this that Ron started in again, but this time rounded on Harry. "Don't be calling her stupid! And what do you mean you love her!? I always knew there was something going on between you two and now I know it's true. I even let you string along my sister when it was clearly Hermione you wanted. Famous Harry Potter always getting whatever he wants."
"What the hell does that mean!? Do you think my life has been easy? You should know by now that I never asked for any of this. You need to sort out your inferiority complex because at this point its getting pathetic," Harry retorted. Where was this all coming from? He felt as if years of pent up rage was all tumbling out and he wasn't sure why. Maybe years of pressure had finally made all of them crack.
"So I'm pathetic now? Is it just me or is it my whole family you think is pathetic? At least I have a family!"
The scene was reminiscent of one that had occurred earlier in the year, but instead of being alone in a tent this time, there were many witnesses to Harry Potter jumping on Ron Weasley and punching him to the ground, while Hermione Granger screamed for them to stop.
The Entrance Hall came to life as people rushed forward to stop the fight. Ginny rushed to Hermione and pulled her aside, as Ron rolled Harry off of him and pinned him to the ground, pummeling his fists into Harry's stomach. A few people had their mouths open, unable to comprehend what was going on and why. Seamus and Dean reached the two fighting on the ground first, and pulled them off each other.
"Alright lads, lets break it up," Seamus said as he grabbed Harry's pulled back arm, and pulled him off of the bleeding Ron. Harry's glasses were askew and blood was streaming out of his nose. Ron's eye was swelling rapidly, and a spat some blood out onto the floor as Dean heaved him to his feet. Harry and Ron glared at each other as Hermione sobbed in Ginny's arms. She was looking at the two of them with daggers, clearly disgusted by their behaviour.
"Can't even fight without someone stepping in to help you!" Ron taunted. Harry lunged forward to strike again, but Seamus gripped him tight.
"That will be quite enough" a voice rang out. Professor McGonagall emerged through the crowd, planting herself in the centre of the Trio, hers eyes darting between them, taking in the scene and assessing the situation. "Mr. Potter, I clearly remember you going up to the common room for rest but now you are here fighting with your best friend. Kindly, explain yourselves please, so we may move on and try and move through this extremely trying day.
McGonagall's nostrils flared at the disturbance in her school. She waited for them to talk, but none of them were clearly ready to explain themselves. The anger between them was palpable, and clearly something was not right.
"They were fighting about who respects who, and whose smart, and who loves who. At least I think they were, Professor." Seamus piped up. "Honestly, they were shouting so much at each other I don't really know what they were made about."
McGonagall looked over her glasses at each of them. So much had happened, no wonder tensions were high. But even she could sense something was wrong. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were all looking at each other with looks that were nothing less than hatred. They needed to be separated and given time to cool down. She would make sure they came together and sorted themselves out, but that would come later.
" , if you would, kindly escort to the Great Hall. There is some tea in there for her."
Hermione, looked at the Professor with a mixture of gratitude and reluctance. She was clearly not done saying what needed to be said. She was infuriated that she was being treated so unfairly and that she didn't get the respect she deserved within the group. Ginny firmly guided her to the Great Hall and Hermione didn't look back.
" , you will escort me up to the Headmaster's office, as there are somethings that I need you to sort out. , I know Hagrid was in need of some assistance out on the grounds. Mr. Thomas if you would be so kind as to take him outside. Mr. Potter, with me please."
McGonagall stretched out her arm to guide Harry up the stairs. It was not a request but a demand. With one last glare at Ron, Harry went up the stairs, McGonagall closely following to ensure he didn't turn around. Ron shrugged off Dean, and stormed off outside. The crowd that had surrounded the fight parted for him to pass, and once he was out the door, broke out into a frenzied whisper. What had just happened?
What none of them realized was that they were witness to the last time that the Golden Trio would ever speak to each other. That night, Hermione Granger left Hogwarts, not to be heard from again. Early the next morning, Ron Weasley returned to The Burrow, and despite his mother's angry insistence he try to make things right with his best friend and girlfriend, he refused to leave the house. Harry Potter remained at Hogwarts before quietly returning to Grimmauld Place several days later. Something had been broken and was not meant to be fixed. No one knew why, or what could be done to fix it. Something had changed that day, and the consequences of that one strange fight would one day catch up to the saviours of the wizarding world.