A Year to Remember
By Izzy
Part 1:Loose Ends
This was it. He knew it was likely he would not be alive in the morning. But if just maybe he could destroy Voldemort utterly, end the threat of him once and for all, it was worth it. His scar was starting to sting, telling him his enemy was near-"Harry?"
He turned. She was standing there.
"Cho, I told you not to follow me. You won't stand a chance against what I'm fighting."
"But what would you stand a-" she started, then realized what he was talking about. "Voldemort."
As if her uttering his name summoned him, Voldemort suddenly appeared. His scar erupted in pain, but he struggled not to show any sign of it. Voldemort turned first to her, his expression containing nothing but annoyance.
"You are in the way. Avada Kedavra!"
"CHO!" Harry bolted towards her, knowing well it was no use. The bolt of green light hit her and she fell dead without a cry.
"NO!" Harry Potter bolted upright in bed, covered in sweat.
It had been two and a half weeks now. Two and half weeks since he had faced Voldemort again. Two and half weeks since Harry had defeated him and destroyed his body-but failed to destroy him entirely. And two and half weeks since the girl he had loved had been killed before his eyes.
He should have felt triumphant, Harry knew. But he couldn't. He knew well Voldemort was by no means gone. He had been certain that if he was alive after the battle he could keep the knowledge that Voldemort was gone forever. But knowing he wasn't, and seeing Cho Chang dead, his victory had felt hollow.
His friends had all congratulated him, and everyone had told him he had won. By the time the term had ended two days later, he had gone numb to the world outside, unable to deal with the pain he got from it because of the pain already within him. The Dursleys had almost been welcome, because they didn't bug him.
The Dursleys didn't have time to bug him anymore. As far as Harry could tell, Dudley had been expelled from Smeltings shortly before the end of the term, and it had thrown the house into an uproar. Uncle Vernon was trying to get Dudley back into Smeltings, and Aunt Petunia was searching for another place to put him. Harry had been allowed to take his trunk up to his room and was told to stay out of the way.
Harder to deal with were the letters from his friends. Normally he would have taken delight in them. But they reminded him of too much he wanted to forget. He couldn't forget anyway. During the day he could always bury himself in homework, and read and reread his textbooks until he knew as much as Hermione.
But there was no escape during the nights. It seemed as if someone had put a curse on him(he had heard something about Peeves putting curses on various students);all his dreams were flashbacks. Quidditch games, the Triwizard championship, the Dementors, every encounter with Voldemort. He also relived every moment he had had with Cho. Every touch, every kiss, every word over and over.
It was easier to write to Hermione then to the others. She was sympathetic, having had to deal with the deaths of two people dear to her:Viktor Krum and her favorite teacher, and Professor Vector, the Arithmancy Professor, both as the hands of Voldemort. But she had already finished her mourning and moved on, and didn't see why he couldn't do so also. She didn't understand that is wasn't just Cho, it was that even though it looked as though he had won against Voldemort, he had really lost.
The summer days, which had previously dragged out, now ran by. Harry kept himself certain of two things. One was something which the Dursleys also kept themselves certain of:this was his last summer with them. Already the Ministry was looking into the case of Sirius Black, and by the time he graduated, Sirius's name was sure to be cleared. He could live with Sirius Black, then strike out on his own.
The other was a vow he had made at Cho Chang's funeral:he would never let another girl suffer her fate. He would not let another girl get close to him until Voldemort was gone forever.
All this going through his mind, Harry pulled himself back under the covers and drifted off.
"He's ahead-she's ahead-he's ahead-she's ahead-he is-she is-he-she-forget the Snitch! Potter and Chang are arm wrestling!" His broom left behind, he crawled along the ground, ignoring Lee Jordan's commenting, never taking his eyes off the Snitch, trying to push her aside as she did the same. The Snitch continued to dance away from them. Without looking, he knew everyone had thier eyes on the two Seekers. She moved forward. Somehow he managed to do the same. Thier hands closed around the Snitch. Her hand was below his. Madam Hooch had made her way over. She knelt down and inspected. "The game is ruled in Ravenclaw's favour!" She announced. He pulled himself up, barely hearing the sound of booing(from Gryffindor) and cheering(from Ravenclaw and Slytherin). They'd lost a Quidditch game once before, but that had been because of Dementors. This was the first time they had just plain been beaten. Head down, he began to walk off the Quidditch field. "Harry?" It was her. Standing there, in her blue robes. "Please don't hate me." She said softly. "I don't." How could he ever hate her? He loved her. But there she was, not reassured by his words. "Everyone has to lose sometime." He tried. "Besides, it could have been worse. You could have been Malfoy." "Malfoy will never defeat you." she said. "He isn't half as good." Was she trying to flatter him? He had never seen the that look in her eyes before. No wait, he had. He had seen it when she had looked at Cedric Diggory the year before. His heart leapt. Was it- "Did I just hear my name mentioned?" Harry surpressed a groan. Could he "Shoo fly, don't bother me." She retorted, giving Malfoy barely a glance. "I have a consolation prize to give." She began to walk towards him. He knew what the glitter in her eyes meant now. They asked a question. His eyes gave an answer. "Ooh, getting all lovey dovey?" She spared Malfoy another glance. "Actually, yes." She reached him, and placed her hands on the back of his neck. "I am getting all 'lovey dovey'." As her mouth came onto his, his arms flew around her back and pulled her close. Scarcely able to believe it, he didn't hear the uproar the audience was making, or the snide comments from Malfoy. The sound of the thudding of his heart drowned out all other, the instense surge of joy flowing through him drove all other thoughts from his mind. They seperated, breathing heavily. "Harry...could we-" "Hoo, hoo." The loud sound of an owl hooting sounded close to his ear. He turned but there wasn't an owl there. But now he could hear a chorus of owls hooting. And what sounded like rapping against a window pane.
Harry woke up. It was morning, and there were several owls at his window. Suddenly he remembered. Today was his seventeenth birthday.
Pulling his glasses on, he opened the window, and they flew in, parcels falling to the ground. Gathering the parcels up, he slid them under the loose floorboard. He knew several of the parcels contained cake, which he would be needing. Dudley was still on the diet begun several years ago, and therefore so was the rest of the house. He got dressed and went down to breakfast.
About half an hour later...
Harry finished a slice of cake as he picked up the letter from Ron. He closed his eyes and tried to block out the memories. He should read Reluctently he opened his eyes again. Dear Harry, Why haven't you been writing more? Barely a sentence or two for weeks. I know you're upset by Cho's death, but you can't curl up and die after her, Harry. Even Hermione says so, and you know how wretched she was after the death of Krum. You've got to remember that you've defeated You-Know-Who, and that Sirius is going to get aquitted, and you've got to live for that. Last week of vacation mum is taking Ginny and me up to London to get supplies. Hermione's coming with us, and you are too. And you are staying with us for the rest of the summer. Trust me, mum isn't taking no for an answer. She's really concerned about you. She'll be sending your Aunt and Uncle a letter about it, and she's not allowing them to say no either. Be ready with your things in front of the door at 10 o'clock on August 25. Cheer up,
Thought you'd like to know:Lucius Malfoy has been found guilty and sent to Azkaban. But Draco's been aquitted on being bewitched, and so has his mother. Don't know for sure about his mother, but I don't think he was. No doubt you already know the rest of the details. After all, you did testify.
Father's been very busy at the Ministry of Magic, so I can only assume the rumors about the Triwizard's Championship being held early are true. But I do suppose it's possible it's next year and not this coming year. I hope it's this year. Mother agrees, she says the last year of school should always be special. Are you going to enter the championship if the rumors are true? I know I am.
Ron
He put the letter down and reached for Hermione's letter. But then something caught his eye. A very tiny parcel next to the cake Ron had sent him. He picked it up, and read the note on it.
To Harry, something you desperatly need. From Mrs. Weasley.
He opened it. He uncovered a tiny blue cube. It fell into his hand and dissolved.
As it dissolved, he was suddenly permeated with a strong feeling of contentment. He'd defeated Voldemort-several times-he wouldn't have to deal with the Dursleys much longer, his godfather would be aquitted, and the Triwizard Championship was coming up. Not that he would enter it. One time as champion was quite enough. It was the first time the entire summer he had been happy.
There was a note at the bottom.
Dear Harry, This is a packaged Cheering Charm. I suppose they haven't taught you about packaged charms yet. Shake off that gloom. And you are coming with us to Diagon Alley at the end of August. Yours Sincerly,
Mrs. Weasley
On August 25...
"Shotgun!" yelled Hermione as they approached the new car.
"Shotgun?" asked Ron.
"Whoever calls shotgun gets the front seat." Hermione explained.
"Prove it." demanded Ginny. She made a run for the car. So did Hermione. Ginny got there first, and placed herself in front of the door. A second later, Hermione was inside the car.
"Didn't I tell you?" she said triumphantly as Mrs. Weasley took the drivers seat and everyone else climbed into the back. "I just passed my Apparition test."
"Don't you need to be eightteen to take the test?" asked Ginny(who had claimed a window seat)
"Usually." answered Hermione. "But occasionally they allow someone to take it at seventeen."
That would definitly be you, thought Ron fondly.
Ron remembered when the things he had said, done, and thought when around Hermione had confused him endlessly. He didn't understand why he had gotten so jealous when she'd been with Krum, or why while he could get angry with her, but something ate at him when he stayed angry. He had then been unsure on why while he was somehow relieved to hear of Krum's death(and why he had been guilty for feeling that way), and yet been so heartbroken because she was. And then he couldn't figure out what had compelled him to take her into his arms and comfort her in front of the entire Gryffindor common room, and why the teasings he'd got the days afterward for doing so hadn't bothered him as long as Hermione was with him and smiling.
Now he knew. He was in love with her.
"So do you think your cousin has a girlfriend now?" she asked. They were on Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, waiting to go out. "Doubt it," he answered, smirking slightly. "No girl would date Dudley to save her life." She leaned in. "Want to make him jealous?" she whispered, grinning. He grinned back. "Yeah." They moved through the barrier. As they did, they moved towards each other. Making sure the Dursleys were in full sight, Harry kissed her, spinning her around just to make the point. "Cho?" A woman who looked liked she could be her mother had also seen them kissing. "Oh." She suddenly looked very nervous. He felt nervous as well. He felt as if the woman was looking at him through an eye-glass. "Mum, this is-" "Wait." Her mother leaned down and pushed aside the hair covering his forehead. "It's Harry Potter! My daughter's dating Harry Potter! I've got to tell your father!" Her mother beckoned to her and ran off. "I guess this is it then, for the summer." She said softly. "I'll send Hedwig every day." he promised. "As often as I'll send Ajax." she replied, and they kissed one last time, bittersweet with farewell, but containing promise of letters and seeing each other again. Then he hugged both Ron and Hermione and bade them farewell, as did she. Then he was off to the Dursleys:Uncle Vernon, who looked very distressed that he would have something that made him so happy; Aunt Petunia, who was muttering what sounded suspiciously like, "Beastly girl, wouldn't let her touch Dudley"; and Dudley, who was glaring at him with a look of jealously, mixed with shock. Feeling much happier then he had when he had left Platform Nine and Three-Quarters the previous year, he-
"Wake up, boy!"
Harry was roused from his dream by the yelling of his uncle. "Your friends arrive in half an hour, and I'm not-"
"Half an hour?" Instantly Harry was up and dressing, glad he had packed his things up the night before. He'd had trouble get to sleep the previous night, but he hadn't thought he could oversleep this badley...
The excitement of the final year had helped Harry, somewhat, in shaking off his depression. With the last year at Hogwarts and very possibly the Triwizard Tournament coming up, Voldemort seemed a distant memory.
By ten o'clock he was downstairs with his trunk. The Weasleys arrived by car. Carrying the trunk with Ron's aid, he walked out of 4 Privet Drive forever without looking back.
One car ride to London later...
One car ride to London later, Harry felt the summer had never happened. Though as first he had tried to ignore everyone because of the memories, as he started to talk, the pain had melted away, and soon he was carrying on with Ron and Hermione. Mrs. Weasley also offered Harry her husband's thanks for his testimony against the Death Eaters, and they were all laughing as Harry described his uncle's indignity that his house was to be connected to the Floo Network again(Harry had given his testimony from the Dursley's fireplace). He didn't even feel pained to remember the things he'd had to talk about in his testimony.
They were in London when suddenly Hermione waved for silence. "I was saving this for a surprise. You remember Fleur Delacour?"
"How could we forget?" replied Ron.
"And you also know how her mother was killed by You-Know-Who?" Ron and Harry both nodded.
"When I heard shortly before the end of last year, I wondered if perhaps we might both benefit from talking with each other, since we'd both lost people we'd...cared a lot about-"
Ron and Harry looked at each other. Hermione always choose her words carefully when she talked about Krum. They still didn't know how far the relationship between the two had gone.
"-so I wrote to her, and she wrote back. The two of us have been in correspondence the entire summer. Her English is very good now. She's employed at Madam Malkin's, and Gabrielle lives here in England with here."
"We're going today," added Mrs. Weasley, "Because today is her day off. She's getting supplies for Gabrielle, who's starting this year at Hogwarts. Now I need a parking spot."
There didn't seem to be any in the near vicinity. Indeed, it was half and hour before they found a car park, and another nerve-wracking half an hour while they looked for a space, and another 15 minutes while Mrs. Weasley tried to figure how to get into the space. By the time they had gotten out of the car and were heading to the nearest Underground station, everyone was grumbling.
As they entered the Underground, however, the grumbling quieted as Ron, Ginny, and Mrs. Weasley looked around in amazement. "Haven't you been on the Underground?" asked Hermione in surprise as she bought farecards for everyone.
"No," said Ginny. "We've only used cars. We've always gone to Diagon Alley by Floo Powder."
They didn't stop gaping during the entire train ride, until they were going up the escalator to the street.
They had scarely entered The Leaky Cauldron when a woman who could only be Fleur jumped up, dragging Gabrielle with her.
"Hermione! Hello!"
"Hello, Fleur. Fleur, this is Mrs. Weasley. You saw her greet Harry-"
"Yes, I remember." She shook Mrs. Weasley's hand, then presented her sister. "This is my sister Gabrielle. Gabrielle, this is Mrs. Weasley."
"Ello," said Gabrielle shyly.
"You remember Harry. He saved you when you were at the bottom of the lake. And these are Hermione and Ron-"
"I remember zem. Zey waire put down een ze lake wiz me." Gabrielle's English apparently wasn't quite as good as her sister's.
"And this is Ron's sister Ginny."
"'Ello, Ginny."
"You don't remember me?"
"No, I am sorry."
"Well," said Mrs. Weasley, "now that introductions are over, let's go."
The first place they went was Gringotts. Hermione pulled out a bag of Pounds for exchanging, while the others were led down to the vaults. As, led by a goblin, they climbed into a cart, Harry thought he heard Fleur mutter, "I hate this."
When the cart took off, Gabrielle moaned, and leaned against the cart, shutting her eyes. Seconds later Fleur did the same. Neither looked up until they stopped in front of a vault.
"Weasley family vault." announced the goblin.
"Are you two allright?" asked Mrs. Weasley. Both Fleur and Gabrielle were slung across the back of the cart, thier eyes still closed.
"Veela are very sensetive to motion." murmered Fleur by way of answer.
"You're Veela?" there was just of hint of horror in Mrs. Weasley's voice.
"Part Veela," answered Fleur. She looked up and smiled weakly. "Were Gabrielle and I full Veela, we would probably both have passed out from a ride like that. Even so, we don't have quite the same tolerance for motion as fully-blooded humans."
"They're very nice, Mrs. Weasley." Harry whispered to Mrs. Weasley, fearful that she would take a dislike to Fleur and her sister.
"Are you going to take money out of your vault or not?" demanded the goblin impatiently.
"Oh. Sorry." She got out and opened the vault. Harry felt the all too familiar surge of guilt when he saw its contents. It looked like it had last time he had seen it:a small pile of sickles and one galleon. Like last time, Mrs. Weasley felt about the vault, then swept the entire pile into her bag."
Fleur, who had recovered, spoke up. "Mrs. Weasley, the money in my vault was originally gathered by my mother to pay to send Gabrielle and myself to Beauxbatons, which is much more expensive then Hogwarts. If you need any money, I could easily spare-"
"No." said Mrs. Weasley firmly.
"Don't take it personally," Harry said softly. "She'll never accept money from anyone."
Fleur did not reply;the cart had started and she and her sister were back against the side of the cart.
The cart stopped again. "Fleur and Gabrielle Delacour's vault" announced the goblin.
Fleur pulled herself onto her feet and stumbled out of the cart. She opened her vault, which Harry was quite sure contained more then his, even when had he first opened it six years ago.
"As I said earlier," Fleur said as she scooped handfuls of money into her bag. "If you need any extra money-"
"No."
"Very well." Her bag full, she got back into the cart and braced herself as it took off again. She did not look up again, even when the cart stopped and the goblin announced, "Harry Potter's vault."
Harry opened his vault. He estimated he had spent about half of the money in it. But there was still plenty of money left. Like Fleur, he filled his bag before returning to the cart.
They met Hermione outside. "Robes." said Fleur, checking a list of the supplies. "I need to get Gabrielle some."
"Ginny needs some new robes as well," said Mrs. Weasley. "Her current ones are way too short. We'll have to get them second-hand-"
"You need not. I can get you a discount-"
"Still couldn't afford three robes from Madam Malkin's."
"You don't have to get all three from her."
"Well..." Ginny's heart leapt. Newly-made robes, fitting her exactly was one of the things she'd always wanted, but knew she could never have.
"We've got a lot of things to buy." Mrs. Weasley said at last. "Lets get those first, and see how much money we have afterward."
Half an hour later...
"That's everything except the robes." said Mrs. Weasley as they walked out of the Apothecary. She handed her bag to Fleur. "There's not much in there, I'm afraid."
Fleur carefully counted the coins out. "There's enough for a single set of plain robes custom-made, and everything else second-hand." She said at last. While Harry, Ron, and Hermione headed to a cafe for lunch, Fleur led her sister, Mrs. Weasley, and Ginny, to Madam Malkin's. "Wait here." She instructed them, and went inside. Several minutes passed and then she came out. "She's agreed to discount you for one robe, and Gabrielle for everything. Um, Mrs. Weasley, would you mind looking after Gabrielle, while I get a cauldron and other equipment?"
"Not at all." She was starting to like Fleur. It must be hard for her, she thought. Having to care for her sister all by herself.
Fleur removed several galleons from her bag. "This will pay for Gabrielle's uniform." Then she hurried off.
Ginny was very nearly jumping for joy as she entered Madam Malkin's for the first time. It was a place she had previously only dreamed of seeing. She looked around as they walked to the back of the shop, where she and Gabrielle were directed onto stools. A witch threw a piece of black cloth over Ginny and began pinning. Opposite her, Madam Malkin was doing the same with Gabrielle.
"You seem very happy," commented Gabrielle.
Ginny smiled at the younger girl and tried to keep the bitterness out of her voice. "All my robes before this have been second-hand."
"Oh. I'm sorry."
"It's allright." She tried to think of something nice to say. "Your sister's very nice."
"So ees your muzzer." Now there was slight bitterness in Gabrielle's voice.
Ginny nearly slapped herself for her insensetivity. "You miss your own?" she said sympatheticly.
"Evairy day." She closed her eyes, and for a moment Ginny thought she was going to cry.
"You're done." announced the witch doing Ginny's robes, and Ginny stepped down from the stools.
"Hey, what are you doing here Weasley? You can't afford it here!"
"Who ees zat?" asked Gabrielle as a boy whom Ginny recognized entered the shop.
"Draco Malfoy," answered Ginny. "I warn you Gabrielle, he's not very nice."
"So how'd you get the money to get a robe here? Go without lunch for a year?"
"I got a discount." said Ginny coolly.
"How? Did you beg?"
Gabrielle answered for Ginny. "My seester got eet for 'er."
Malfoy put his hand on his ear. "Could you repeat that? I'm afraid I didn't understand a word of it."
Gabrielle turned red. "Don't listen to him, Gabrielle." Ginny advised her. "He's only saying it to upset you."
Malfoy took a closer look at Gabrielle. "Oh yes, I remember you. The granddaughter of an airheaded dancer."
"My grandmuzzer was a wise woman!" said Gabrielle angrily.
"At least her father wasn't a Death Eater!" added Ginny.
"I remember," Malfoy continued. "Fell into the lake, didn't you? Couldn't even be rescued by your idiot sister. You're just like your brother, Weasley, you keep the worst company."
This was too much for Ginny. Moving forward, she socked him in the jaw. A second later, he launched himself at her. Seconds later, he staggered back as she kicked him in the groin. Then Mrs. Weasley grabbed her and the witch who had done her robes grabbed Malfoy.
"Ginny!"
"Now, Mr. Malfoy..."
Mrs. Weasley held on tight to Ginny as she paid for the robe and left.
Not too long afterward...
"So Dudley got expelled?" Ron asked.
Harry nodded. "I'm surprised it didn't happen sooner."
"What happened to him?" asked Hermione.
"Don't know," said Harry. "I wasn't paying much attention. Given that my Aunt and Uncle weren't running around quite as much, I think Dudley was accepted to another school, but I don't think they were satisfied."
"Look," said Hermione. She pointed to where Mrs. Weasley was approaching, dragging Ginny with her. Fleur and Gabrielle trailed behind. Gabrielle was carrying a cage with a small brown owl inside. Mrs. Weasley was lecturing Ginny.
"It must have been your father, picking a fight with Mr. Malfoy, but I told you that was no way for him to behave, and it's no way for you to behave either...you know I ran into Mrs. Malfoy while you were trying on robes, and you know how angry she was..."
"What happened?" asked Harry..
"Your old friend Draco Malfoy showed up," answered Fleur. "He insulted Ginny and Gabrielle and-"
"-and she 'it 'im!" Gabrielle finished.
"You hit Malfoy?" Ron looked delighted.
"It's nothing to smile about!" snapped Mrs. Weasley.
"Socked him in the jaw," said Ginny proudly. "Then kicked him.." she pointed down, "..down there."
Ron, Harry, and Hermione all looked down. "Ohhh," said Harry and Ron at the same time.
"She could have seriously hurt him!" Mrs. Weasley continued. "Or been serious hurt herself;he's a year older and much stronger-"
"I didn't know you had it in you," Ron said aside to Ginny, after they took thier leave of Fleur and Gabrielle and were walking back to the Underground.
"Neither did I." she answered.
It wasn't long after that they reached the car. "Shotgun!" yelled Harry
Ginny groaned.
"See?" Said Hermione triumphantly. "I wasn't making it up."
From the front seat, Harry watched carefully through the rearview mirror as Ron and Hermione got into the car. Though he wasn't sure about her yet, he was very certain his best friend had fallen very much in love with his other best friend.