Spoiler alert for whoever didn't read the last Harry Potter book!: Slightly AU, I wouldn't particularly say it has dark Harry...more like pissed off Harry, Voldemort is still evil, but he's alive in this one even though this takes place 8 or 9 years after Harry graduated from Hogwarts. Harry still works for the ministry and is head Auror, Ron and Hermione are Married (no kids), Neville Married Hannah (one kid), Luna is alive but I don't know what I want to do with her yet, Hagrid is alive and still works at Hogwarts (of course), Fred is still dead, Hedwig is still dead, Malfoy is alive and still a death eater. I changed Harry and Ginny's past relationship; they did not date in Hogwarts or after hogwarts, Ginny still had a crush on Harry in her first year. Harry, in this one, hated her and still hates her, now Ginny hates him (blah blah blah), and Dumbledore is still dead.
I am not a professional writer. I am just doing this for fun. My grammar is not very good. And there will be some clichés I think. So just read it to have fun, nothing sophisticated. Oh yeah, and I do not own any characters accept the ones that are not in J.K. Rowling's book. All belongs to her.
I appreciate you giving this a chance.
London, England
It was chilly. The dark and murky streets of London were billowing with light fog and glistening with smattering water. The October sky, sparkling with stars during the summer, was now cloudy and filling with dark smoke coming from the chimneys.
"He's over there!" the distant shouts of the local policemen appeared. They were running through the alley ways, chasing after what looked to be an "outlaw", wearing a long black cloak and had long soggy wet hair. "Stop at once! Now!" they demanded.
After a very long gripping chase through alleyways and fences, they came to a gap that was in between two buildings. It was a dead end.
"We got you! You have no choice but to halt at once!" the sergeant forcefully demanded.
The victim stopped, panting. His back was still hunched as he reluctantly turned around. He held a stick in his left hand. His eyes showed hate and annoyance. His hand slowly raised the stick and was about to say something when he was suddenly blasted backward in the wall by a great force of light.
A young man with dirty blond hair wearing the oddest clothing had run past the men and immediately tackled the victim to the ground. . He was pointing a stick, similar to the one the other had, to his head.
"He said halt scumbag" he growled to him, the 'victim' was struggling under the boys grip, but then gave an evil chuckle.
"The Ministry can't afford to be picky and choosy I see", he said with amusement.
The two officers were holding out there guns prepared to arm themselves, but were still very shocked; first by the unexpected force of light which looked like a meteor had hit the guy, and that a boy was trying to wrestle this man who looked like he could snap him like a twig.
"Are you out of your bloody mind lad? Get out of here!" they called irritably.
"The mud bloods said scram maggot", the man growled, then in one quick movement grabbed the boy's hand that was holding the stick and flipped him over on his back.
"Freeze or we'll shoot!" they yelled, there guns pointing at him.
The man laughed with mirth, then raised the stick again "crusi…" he begin but his wand had flown out of his hand.
"Get him!" Someone shouted above them. They hastily looked up, two men had jumped down from one of the buildings, tackling the man to the ground, and pushed him up to the wall with such force he groaned in severe pain.
"Hey! Stop this! Who are you!" the policemen cried. They were about ready to go over and tear the men off him when the alleyway was suddenly lit up with a blinding light.
They turned around, hands hovering over their eyes to shield the head lights. It took them a while to relies it was a motor cycle. A man was sitting in it. He was wearing a cap and goggles.
"Who the heck are you?" they yelled, frustrated that no one was letting them do their job.
The man swung his leg around and stepped off the bike. When he took off his goggles they saw that he was a very young man, maybe in his early 20's. He had jet black hair that was a little wet, and his emerald eyes had dark bags under them. He, like the other perpetrators, was holding a stick.
"I think we can take it from here…um…gentleman" he said firmly.
The policemen looked from each other and him in confusion and frustration.
"Who do you think you are?!" said one sergeant, "get out of here boy! Or we'll arrest you for…" he was cut of when the young man raised his stick. Rolling his eyes as if he expected this, he shouted "Obliviate!"
***
The Burrow...3 days later
The barely standing, Weasley home was filled with many family members today. Ron, Hermione, Percy, George, Angelina and Ginny were visiting Mr. and Mrs. Weasley after prolonging it for months.
"I'm so glad you three finally made some time for you're parents…you've had no idea how dull it's been around here" said Mrs. Weasley, who had the cheeriest smile on her face and hummed merrily as she was filling everyone's plates with mountains of food.
Hermione and Angelina were looking uncertainly at everyone but still kept a normal visual, while all the Weasley children had big cheesy grins plastered on there faces, almost as though they cut out someone's smile from a magazine and pasted it on there own.
Ginny, among them, noticed how stern her father looked. Guilt spilled over her, making her slink slightly lower in her seat. It had been months since she and many of the other Weasley children, saw their parents. She missed them terribly, but everything had just been so hectic; she had reassigned from her position on the quidditch team, and the wizarding world was still suffering from the perennial war.
Arthur Weasley was looking at his children firmly but kept very calm. "Yes it certainly has, you children have no idea how much this means to your mother" he said as if he were giving them a lecture rather than a statement.
"Well we are very glad to be here. Isn't that right Ronald" Hermione said brightly, nudging Ron in the ribs.
"What…oh right, yep, we love coming!" Said Ron as he started rubbing at his bruised side from Hermione's nudge.
"Yeah, you act like someone threatened us to come ha ha!" said George nervously. Angelina stepped on George's foot under the table. He gave a little cringe as Mr. Weasley started rubbing his eyes in frustration.
"Idiot" Angelina mumbled under her breath.
"Err...mum…I really don't need this much on my plate" Said Ginny, staring at her dish as Mrs. Weasley continued piling more potatoes on it.
"Eat Ginny…Mother made PLENTY OF IT" said Mr. Weasley, putting depth into the last three words.
Ginny gulped in her throat and started taking small bites of her large portions of food.
After Molly had finished filling everyone's plate she sat down, her smile never fading.
"So tell me what everyone's up to…Hermione are you still working?" she asked.
Hermione looked a little surprised at first but then recovered. "Yes actually, at the ministry, I think I am really moving up too. In fact the other day they…."
"That's lovely dear, and are you and Ron planning anything else?" she asked quickly, obviously not interested in the subject of careers.
Ron looked horrified, he knew what was coming. "No! Nothing else mum! She's working there and I'm just helping George with his joke shop…that's it", he said with finality.
Arthur saw where Ron was going and also knew that was probably the best subject to stay on. "Well that's great Ronald…say, didn't you mention you wanted to be an Auror eventually?" he asked.
"How many years has it been since you and Ron been newly weds Hermione? 3 or 4 years is it?" Mrs. Weasley egged on naturally, as though the subject hadn't been changed.
Ginny's head was bowed down, her hand covering her obvious Snickers. Hermione was about to answer when Ron chimed in.
"Well DAD, I did want to be an Auror but I just thought George needed a hand to boost up his business, you know", he said loudly, looking at his mother with a warning look.
Molly Weasley gave him a look right back, signaling she would not let it go.
"I was HOPING you two would think about other things such as getting a bigger home for lets say…a BIGGER FAMILY", she said just as loudly.
"MOM THIS FOOD IS DELICIOUS, MAY I HAVE SECONDS!" said George with more volume than Ron and Molly.
"Oh really! Please, that's enough!" shouted Hermione, standing up from the table. Everyone remained silent. When she saw no one arguing she sat down and became calm again.
"Molly…Ron and I feel it's not the best time to have kids…but when we do decide to have them it's nobodies business but ours until we say so", she finished.
Hermione thought she got her message across very clear until she saw that Mrs. Weasley's eyes began to glisten with moisture. She was suddenly regretting her statement.
"I quit my job yesterday" Ginny blurted out.
Hermione better thank me for this later, Ginny thought to herself.
Hermione looked as though she wanted to give her a big hug. She knew Ginny didn't mind sharing the heat when needed.
Mrs. Weasley immediately turned her attention on the youngest Weasley, who looked like she was freeze framing for the spot light with a big fake smile on her face.
"You quit quidditch?" she asked surprised, while George was holding back a snort at his mother's similar wording choice, "it better be because you're pregnant" she said.
Ginny was appalled. "Mum, I'm not married!" she said.
"I don't care!" her mom shouted, slamming her hands on the table. George and Ron were desperately holding back the milk that was just waiting to spill out of there nostrils.
"You gave up quidditch? What a surprise! So how's giving up quidditch going for you?!" Arthur asked enthusiastically, trying yet again to stir away from dangerous territory and probably not even realizing exactly what he was asking.
"Wonderful dad! I don't have to play quidditch!" Ginny said with just as much 'enthusiasm' as her father and also probably not realizing exactly what she was saying.
"Great! What's it like not playing quidditch?!" Arthur asked with fake joy.
"Awesome! It's like…err….like not playing quidditch!" Ginny said.
"Arthur, eat you're plate!" Molly snapped, pointing at his un eaten food.
"You mean my food dear…" said Arthur, looking a little confused.
"Please tell me you are at least dating someone" said Molly, turning her attention to Ginny and ignoring her husband.
Ginny looked to be about ready to blow a gasket. "No mum I am not", she said stubbornly, but recoiled when she saw her mum's face burn with anger.
"But I am looking for another job, I like to write you know" she quickly added before her mum exploded right there in the kitchen.
Mrs. Weasley calmed down slightly and looked at her daughter with curiosity. "Really?" she asked looking pleasantly surprised.
"Yes, so I was thinking about looking into journalism" Ginny said with more confidence.
"Well alright then dear, you know how supportive I am and I'll be happy whatever you do", Molly said happily, looking very satisfied all the sudden then went back to eating her peas.
"Bloody menopause" muttered Ron under his breath. Before Hermione could do her job, Arthur kicked his son's foot from under the table.
"Ouch! What the bleeding heck was that for?"
Percy gave a slight cough to draw away his brother's unwanted attention.
"So things are pretty crazy at the ministry aren't they dad? Don't know how we survive sometimes", chimed in Percy.
Arthur looked at his son and nodded in agreement. "Oh tell me about it! It's hectic down there and for good reason" agreed Arthur.
Ginny rolled her eyes as if she had heard this a million times, "Let me guess…front page headlines: Harry Potter did something he shouldn't of again", she said, raising her hand as if the title was in the air, "but he's still our Lord and Savior, Ministry should bow to him in gratitude".
Hermione gave Ginny a disappointed look, "Ginny! Don't over exaggerate! You haven't even read what they said in the daily prophet".
Ginny shook her head. "Pff…I don't need to", she said in a matter of fact voice.
"Ginny, Harry has nothing to with the articles, you know how they are" said Ron very seriously.
"Well he isn't saying anything back and you know why that is, don't you? Because he doesn't have too" said Ginny, as though she was bored with what she was saying.
"Ginny! It's because Harry couldn't care less what the dailies think of him. You know his attitudes towards them!" Ron exclaimed.
"All evidence to the contrary Ron" Arthur said with disappointment to his tone, "In fact, Hermione, I am surprised you're still defending him…you work at the ministry as well, even if you two aren't in the same department".
Hermione bowed her head in quick thought, looking torn but seemed determined. "I know he's changed somewhat since graduation…but…he's…he's…"
"Hermione", Percy interrupted, "using the memory charm on muggles who we don't even know saw enough and didn't get permission…that's destructive. Now if it was maybe you who did it, I would know there was a good reason but this is Harry, not the Harry from Hogwarts...the Harry that works for the ministry".
"It was the Authorities, they could have reported it! And who knows what they saw…" Hermione said.
"I am shocked that you don't agree here. You're Hermione, the smartest witch in the wizarding world" Ginny said.
Hermione rolled her eyes, not saying anything further after Mrs. Weasley started giving everyone disapproving looks.
"That's enough all of you! Harry has always been a nice boy and still is. Ginny, Percy I am surprised! And Arthur….shame on you" she waggled her finger at them and started gathering everyone's plates to wash them, all the while muttering words like "judgmental", "ungrateful", and "don't know a thing".
"I think this dinner went well, don't you think so?" asked Mr. Weasley, nobody answered.
A/N: Hello, thanks for taking the time to read my story. Whether you liked it or not, I appreciate you giving it a chance. Again, I am clearly not a great writer, but this was just for pure fun and I am a silly romantic. Maybe once I take some serious writing classes, I will write something much better.