Hey sorry about this story disapearing for a while, I'll try to upload all of the original chapters, edited for grammar and stuff soon. I will also try to get some new chapters up really soon.

-Me

The Third Option

Don't own Harry Potter or any of the related stuff. Got it? Great, all done with that.

There they stood. Alone, or so they thought... there was something strange about this place. How he knew it, oh how he knew it too well. The rocks, the trees, the mountains, the sounds, the air, the smell of the earth. Oh how he loved it and how he missed it. He was safe there, much safer in comparison to where he was. She was there, by the trees, he could catch up with her if he ran, fast. Suddenly, something strange, unfamiliar popped up through the mist. The smooth chrome-like metallic finish made the building much bigger than it was in actuality. And as suddenly as she came she was gone, and a loud high pitched mysterious whistle pierced through the dusk air, killing any sanity he may have left in possession. A tall, brooding figure dragged slowly towards him. Making his way in a dreadfully dull pace. The figure was dark, tall and had the distinctive dress of a man of the cloth. The priest erupted with laughter by a nuclear reactor. Why a priest would be near a Nuclear Reactor anyway? What's wrong with these people?, Harry thought as he pounded his fist into the pillow and rolled over to a almost peaceful sleep.

He'd had the same nightmare for years. Partially based on fact, and mostly just random images he remembered from the days past. Harry Potter was a world renowned auror, he defeated Voldermort, so why was he still scared of his own nightmares?

After the battle, everyone rejoiced and called him a hero. In a way he was, but it still made his stomache turn. He felt the need to renounce what they called him, but they wouldn't listen to him. It was thought, that after the battle, everyone would be safe, protected, secure. It was too good to be true. Harry knew it, and he tried to tell everyone. It was dismissed as paranoia, post traumatic stress syndrome on his part. Like the former Minister of Magic , Cornelius Fudge, refused to believe the Dark Lord was back, the public refused to believe anything bad could ever happen to them again. Some were so fool-hearty that they didn't even lock there doors at night.

It was like what was said in Harry's 5th year about Professor Umbridge, just because she isn't very nice, doesn't mean she is a dark wizard. The same rung true for the rest of wizard kind. Nobody dared to come right out and blame Harry, after all he did distroy the worlds greatest evil ever, but he didn't solve all of there problems. After some time, many people came to their senses and realized that it was ridiculous to expect a young man to solve all of their problems, let alone how magical he is. Harry, for his part, always has felt responsible for all of mankind. The burden of which was placed upon him since before he was born. He knew he would die in the service, maybe then, they would let the Boy who lived have some peace.

Hermione and Ron, spent much of there time, after the war and since, trying desperately to help their friend. He wasn't visibly depressed, but they knew him the way the person reads a book.

The world famous trio wound up becoming exactly what they acted out as students, Aurors. It wasn't as much adventure as there life at Hogwarts.

As expected, Hermione got top marks at the academy. At the graduation party, thrown at the Ministry, Ron was quoted, " Better to have the genius on our side than against us."

"Way to go Captain Obvious, now what color is my hair?" Harry, amazed as ever that Ron never failed to state the obvious.

Ron never got the chance to reply as to the fact that he was put in an immediate headlock by George, " Awe... Come on Ronniekins, you got be more prepared than that. And as to your question Harry, its as black and unruly as ever, don't you ever try to tame it for the occasion?"

"Why with eyes as green as a speckled toad, why should he?" Fred interrupted George, along with any chance for Harry to give a good comeback.

At this point, Ginny punched her brother and snarled, "Why don't we all just forget this craziness from second year?"

"Nonsense Poopy Pants!" Fred interjected as crazy tango music erupted throughout the hall, " Come on, save a dance for your favorite brother!" He didn't even wait for a reply, he just simply grabbed Ginny and sent her spinning into the middle of the floor. He would have took people out, if there had been anybody else dancing.

"Leave it for Fred to steal the spot light," George said as he cast a glance over to the floor, " Shall we Hermione?"

"Sorry George, I promised Ron first dance, I'll catch up with you later." All this was said as Hermione was led by a scowling Ron to the now, slightly alive crowd, with the exception of Fred and Ginny, who was trying desperately to get away.

Fred then turned to Harry, "Shall we?"

Harry gave him a quizzical look,, " I just graduated from the strictest Auror Academy in the World. You had better be kidding, I've learned too many curses to be hoodwinked into dancing with you." It was at this point that several girls ran screaming up to Harry asking him to dance at once. " Why don't you dance with Fred here, I'll dance with you and then we'll all switch around later?" Harry noted that Ginny was now successful free from George and was dancing some vaguely familiar man.

The remainder of the night was spent drinking, dancing, and generally schmoozing. After midnight, Harry signaled to Hermione and Ron that he was leaving, chuckled to himself that it took them 8 years and three months to get together, and apparated home.

Once he arrive there, he simply fell into a deep sleep of exhaustion. His dreams were haunted by an old castle, dripping in ivy and old gardens. And a familiar laugh.. echoing throughout the fog.

Suddenly there she was, alone, as always. This time she was looking at someone else, someone else vaguely familiar.

Harry awoke, swearing, and punched his pillow, when would this guilt all leave him?

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