Author's note: Hey guys! This fic is set so many years after the Epilogue in DH. It's canon compliant 'cause I love canon :), but I'll add things from my own imagination in later chapters. This is my first shot in Fan Fiction so I hope you like it! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns Harry Potter... and gets paid for it all... TT_TT
ooOXOoo
"You're dying, Mr. Potter...," the Healer said in a voice close to a whisper.
Dying.
The word echoed through his mind, over and over again, bidding him to comprehend its meanings.
How many times has he faced death? Faced the fate that was supposed to befall on him when he was nothing more than a baby?
Yet, this was an entirely different situation. He wasn't risking his life fighting Voldemort or any other Dark witches and wizards as he did from time to time in his job as an Auror. He wasn't about to sacrifice himself for the people he loved, knowing he was a Horcrux that needs to be destroyed.
He wasn't battling some outside forces. This time, the battle took place in his own body.
He was dying.
He let out a long, strangled breath, stopping the Healer in whatever it was that she was still explaining to him. He sat down on the chair closest to him, pushed against a wall. He leaned his head on it and closed his eyes.
Millions of thoughts entered his mind. None, however, was more important than that of his wife.
Ginny.
He suddenly remembered vividly the way she had cried out his name when she saw him lying still in the arms of Hagrid. Her voice was filled with so much pain and agony.
How could he allow anything or anyone to cause her such hurt ever again? He vowed to always protect her. She was his heart, his soul. His life, the very core of his being. He loves her so much that the mere thought of hurting her hurts him as well.
He promised never to leave her ever again. Yet, here he was, about to part with her once more.
No, he thought fiercely. I won't cause Ginny pain. I won't leave her ever again. I promised her that.
He was filled with determination throughout his entire body. He would not die. He would not leave Ginny alone. Like all the other times before, when he was rounding up all of Voldemort's followers, when fate tried to separate him from her again, he would fight this. He would never leave Ginny's side ever again.
Having made up his mind, he slowly reopened his eyes and looked at the Healer as she was staring at him with a look of confusion, concern and, much to his chagrin, pity. Her expression suddenly made him angry. It was like she was telling him that whatever he was planning to do was futile. That he was going to fail.
He abruptly stood up, startling the young woman in the process. She flinched and slightly stepped away from him. She stared at him with surprise and even fear. After all, having been dubbed as The-Defeater-of-The-Dark-Lord and being the Head Auror, people often see him as someone powerful, even in his old age.
Her expression made him calm down a bit. He closed his eyes yet again and took in slow, deep breaths. A strained silence enveloped them. His intakes of breath are the only things that can be heard.
"Mr. Potter...?" the Healer said warily after a few moments.
Harry Potter once again opened his eyes slowly. The Healer was still staring at him cautiously, afraid of a sudden outburst of rage.
"Would you mind not telling anyone else about this? Not my family or the press?" he asked her politely.
His request startled her. She expected that he wouldn't want the press to know, after all, the great Harry Potter was known for his lack of interest in publicity. But, surely he would want his family to know something this important. Realizing he was waiting for her reply in his request, she blushed and hurriedly said, "O – Of course, sir. I – If that is what you want."
He nodded firmly, still staring at her, as if he was measuring her honesty and trustworthiness. "Thank you very much. Good day to you."
And with that, he grabbed his cloak and existed swiftly from her office, leaving her dumbstruck.
.
ooOXOoo
.
Looking up from the article she was currently editing, Ginny checked the clock on her home office wall. It was a quarter past five in the afternoon. Harry was running a little late. She wondered what was taking him so long. He told her he was going to St. Mungo's for a quick check – up, something they commonly do in the Auror Department, to maintain good health and all that. She was unable to accompany him this time due to a deadline she had to meet for an article.
Realizing she was getting hungry, she placed her quill down and got up and went to the kitchen to make herself a cup of tea and a sandwich.
As she sat there, sipping tea and eating, she found herself reminiscing. She remembered memories of the life she shared with her husband, some vividly, others vaguely, due to old age. Their first kiss in the common room. The short time they had together during her fifth year. Getting together after the war (she purposely skipped the part he broke up with her). Harry's proposal. Their marriage. Giving birth to James, then to Albus and lastly, to Lily. Every one of their wedding anniversaries. Every kiss, every touch they shared.
Thinking of all these times, a smile crept into her face. She has been through a lot with him. Good times and bad. She thought that no one else could ever make her happy the way Harry has and still does. Even though bad things happen, she always has him to lean onto and give her strength in order to continue living life. He was her strength. She can't possibly live without him. All her life, she has loved Harry Potter with every bit of her, with every fiber of her being. He was a part of her. If he dies, she does too.
Wait, she suddenly thought. Why am I thinking about Harry dying?
Pushing away this morbid thought, she got up, waved her wand over her dishes to wash them and went out into the front yard where she would wait for Harry's arrival.
ooOXOoo
I know; it's short. But I promise the next chapters will be longer. :)
ooOXOoo
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