*Disclaimer: J. K. Rowling owns the Harry Potter series.
*2014-10-05 Reconstruction: Chapter 1~3 has been merged into one. If you've already read all three of the 'Beginning of the End' chapters, feel free to skip over this chapter.
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Trouble Finds Me
Beginning of the End
(Posted 2014-04-28, Updated 2014-10-05)
A giant crash of glass brought Ron and Hermione rushing to the bathroom.
They had been in the process of renovating Ron and Hermione's new apartment, with Ron in the living room painting the walls a pale beige, Hermione in the kitchen installing muggle and wizard kitchenware, and Harry taking apart the tiles in the bathroom in preparation for re-tiling.
"...Bloody hell, what happened here?" Ron took one look at the mess and rushed out for the first aid kit.
The mirror was in pieces and Harry was in the middle of the mess trying to pick out glass from the scratches on his hand.
"Harry, are you alright? Stay still and let me clean that up for you." With a sweep of her wand, Hermione gathered the mirror pieces together and repaired it, then levitated the mirror back on the wall.
"...getting injured doing renovations... trouble finds him, indeed," Ron was muttering as he came back with the first aid kit and some bandages. Opening the kit and taking out the antiseptic, Ron called Harry over. "Here, mate. This'll sting."
"Sorry, that stubborn tile next to the mirror wouldn't come off, so I tried to lever it out with another piece of tile, but it broke... And my hand kind of...went through the mirror."
"Harry, there is something called magic, you know." Hermione sounded exasperated, as if repeating something for the umpteenth time.
"Yeah, well... I just felt like doing it the muggle way this time around because... Ron?" Harry paused when he saw Ron's expression.
"Mate, you haven't exactly used magic just now without noticing, have you?" Ron was pale, and something in his tone gave Harry a strange premonition that something big was about to happen.
"... No, why?"
"... There's no wound." Ron whispered.
It took a moment for Hermione to understand the implied meaning behind those words.
They all heard Harry's muttering in the silence. "And here I was, thinking I had been too drugged up with too many healing potions and hallucinating before."
Hermione and Ron had twin looks of disbelief.
"You mean to tell me your body bloody healed itself before and you didn't say anything?!"
"Harry, please tell me you were going to tell us about this... Wait. Is this why you were constantly brooding and broke up with Ginny last month?" Hermione's face was becoming more and more horrified by the second.
Harry looked bone-weary and so much older than his age of twenty two. In fact, only ten minutes ago, he had looked much more carefree and younger, almost as if he were still...
"...Oh, Harry." Realization colored Hermione's face as she examined him closely and noticed the difference – or more like, lack of difference. "Why didn't you tell us?"
"Tell us what? What's going on? …Hermione? Harry?" Ron was getting more and more frustrated, trying to understand what in the world Hermione was talking about.
After a long pause, Harry finally whispered, "It seems that I can't get hurt… nor age."
Ron's mouth fell open in surprise, but closed quickly. He joked weakly. "Perhaps you just look good for your age?"
"Harry, are you sure about the not aging part? It's quite normal for wizards to have a longer life-span..." But Hermione only looked like she was trying to convince herself that it wasn't true.
Once not aging was mentioned and Harry was observed closely, one could find no discrepancies from the Harry after the war and the Harry in front of them.
Harry broke the silence. "You already suspected, didn't you, Hermione?"
Ron and Hermione shared a look.
Hermione started pacing the already-tight-bathroom, thinking furiously. Flicking her wand once again to clean up the blood on the tiles, she explained. "We didn't think it was something as big as… this. But I did suspect that issues would rise up with you owning the cloak, gaining allegiance from the Elder Wand, and using the stone –"
"– like that grandiose 'Master of Death' title." Ron interrupted.
"– because you did 'master' them. And we really weren't sure if anything would happen in the first place. We didn't want to jump to conclusions without definite proof."
Hermione continued. "Actually, I wasn't even sure of you unlocking powers at all. Remember what Mr. Lovegood said: if united, the three Hallows will make the possessor master of Death.' Then he emphasized the parts about being 'master', 'conqueror', and 'vanquisher'. So does this mean you are a master of death, as in you wouldn't die? Or was it a simple phrase that fit in with the story itself? The character Death could have been an actual person; possibly an enemy of the Peverell brothers... is that what it means? Ugh! I really need to research this more thoroughly. I even went to Dumbledore, but he didn't have any more information for me. But where to go? The Department of Mysteries? Durmstrang? Considering that Grindelwald was a student there…"
As Hermione started talking to herself, muttering the pros and cons about places she could possibly search for more information, Ron glanced at Harry.
"Blimey. Mate? Since when have you noticed that you were…err…"
"Unbreakable? Immortal?" Harry said with a humorless laugh. "About a month after the last battle. I may have noticed the not aging part subconsciously, but didn't want to face the truth. Just got the slap in the face when I took a closer look at myself the night I realized some paper cuts I got in the morning had disappeared that day."
With a soft touch on both of his friends' shoulders, Harry interrupted Ron's brooding silence and Hermione's mutterings. Continuing in a light voice, "We need to finish renovations today. Come on you lot, let's go back to work."
Hermione looked like she was about to protest; Harry held out his hand to stop her.
"Hermione, I know this is big news. I'm actually freaking out myself. I understand we need to talk through this, but it's not now. We have too little information. In any case, I'm pretty sure if anyone can find information, it's you. But right now we really do need to finish this apartment before your wedding next week. You both deserve time off on your honeymoon, and coming back to a half-renovated bathroom isn't going to be fun."
When she opened her mouth to argue, Ron stopped her, putting a hand on her shoulder.
"He's right Hermione. We need more information, but it's going to take more than a day of research, alright? Let's all just... get used to the information. For now."
Harry threw a grateful look towards Ron then turned towards the door.
"Well? Where did you leave the new tiles? The bathroom's ready for them."
{(TFM)}
At dinner at the nearby muggle diner, Hermione placed protective wards she hadn't needed since the war. She questioned Harry, but learned nothing new.
"I don't believe any of the Hallows questers that Lovegood mentioned were able to master all of them, much less had one in possession knowing what it was. Actually, we are probably the experts, now. We know about them as extensively if not even more than they do. Should we look for the other questers, to see what theories they have about what happens to the one who unites the Hallows? Would they even share the information with us in the first place? Lovegood only spilled because he was under high pressure. I don't think he will be as accommodating this time around."
Ron snorted.
"Ha! 'Accommodating'? I don't want to see the treacherous bleeder who betrayed us. Besides, those questers will have no clue. Old Xeno had unknowingly given us a clue when he said that the descendants of the Peverell family died in the male line. I mean, if I were really looking for a Hallow, besides the Elder Wand which has a 'bloody trail in history', I would search for the cloak passed down through the generations and try and acquire it first. It is quite simple to track down a family, after all. However, no one in living memory has done it yet, or you would have known. Dumbledore doesn't count, he was just looking. My point is, we know more about the Hallows than Xenophilius does, and I seriously doubt if anyone else knows even more than he does. I mean, Hermione, you dismissed it as a simple children's tale before seeing it for yourself. Not many people are willing to believe things as easily as the Lovegoods do. Those questers probably think a little more like you and me. Anyway, I don't think it's a good idea to start asking around about the Hallows to anyone right now... We're under public scrutiny with our wedding so close, not to mention Harry is under constant scrutiny. Those idiots will start thinking Harry will aim to become the next dark wizard if he steps a toe out of line."
Hermione blinked in surprise."...Wow Ron. That was quite a rant. I never knew you had it in you."
"Always the tone of surprise," Ron grumbled. "Blimey, I mean, just remember what happened after his breakup with Ginny! And I know that relationship wasn't declared public after the war. Even Mum thought the public was going overboard."
Harry had stayed silent for most of the conversation, but agreed with Ron, albeit for a different reason.
"Hermione, Ron's right. We can't just start asking around, much less start searching for information. Please don't ask people about it - even Mr. Lovegood. I don't want any Unspeakables catching wind of an immortal person from the Hallows, which is still considered to be a fairy tale. I have a feeling I'll wind up in a 'glass cage' indefinitely, being observed and experimented on. Not to mention that I would have even less privacy."
As they finished dinner in silence and started on dessert, Hermione broached the topic.
"So... Harry? About Ginny?"
Harry sighed.
"Look Hermione. I don't really want to talk about all the reasons why we broke up. But you should understand that we mutually agreed to this, and it didn't have much to do with my... problem."
"She's never going to let you off with so little information, mate." Ron commented, seeing the glare Hermione was giving Harry.
"I know you don't want to talk about it, but Ginny was heartbroken after the breakup! If this is you being all noble and sacrificing because of your little 'problem', I will... I will... I will make sure you two are locked up together after I tell her about it!"
Ron winced.
Sighing again, Harry explained patiently.
"Before, I loved her - romantically. I really did. But I changed too much in the war. We weren't the same people who dated back in school. She said she loved me too, but she agreed that it had started with adulation, progressed to love, but changed to a more brotherly love. I am not so sure I consider her to be a sister, but I think it is for the best. Again, we mutually agreed, Hermione. I made sure to make it clear to her that if she wishes to still continue, I wouldn't stop her; I only honestly gave her my thoughts about how I don't see her the same way as before."
When he saw Hermione's mouth open to ask another question, he cut her off with another sigh.
"Yes, the immortality did have something to do with it. I didn't tell her, I didn't know how to, or that there actually was an issue. But even if I did tell her, who would want to marry someone knowing that her partner would outlive her? Someone who would look like her son when she becomes an old woman? Ginny might, but she has been honest with me as well, telling me that she doesn't see in us what she sees in you two or Bill and Fleur."
Harry paused with a far look in his eyes.
"Even without her telling me that, when I see Ginny and picture her future, I picture her at her wedding, with some bloke I have a feeling I won't like too much, taking care of her family like Mrs. Weasley does. When I look ahead to my own future... I can't see myself spending the rest of my days with a family. Extended bachelorhood, with Kreacher for company, pondering philosophy, studying deeper magics to try to understand why things happened the way it did... yes. I had hoped I would have a life after defeating him, but even you know I won't. Everything shifted ever since experiencing - no, visiting King's Cross. Even flying doesn't feel the same anymore."
There was a brief silence while Hermione looked lost for words and Ron gave a resigned sigh.
"Be glad my brothers didn't go after you after breaking up with Ginny. Not that they wouldn't, had you been in the wrong. It's just that… we all saw that it wasn't working for both of you."
Harry gave a rueful laugh. "If they had been after me, I doubt whether I could have survived. It is si- five against one, after all." He then stood up and picked up his coat.
"Well, it's time for me to go. Kreacher's expecting me. My treat, since I'm leaving early. Take your time and don't talk about me, for a change." Harry chuckled while putting down several pounds on the counter for the meal. "Talk about yourselves. I mean, I'm pretty sure there are still issues you two need to work out before tying the knot. At least, that's what other married people tell me."
He waggled his eyebrows at Ron and gave a discreet wink to Hermione.
"Good night, both of you. I'll see you two tomorrow."
Before Hermione and Ron could deter Harry from leaving, Harry left the diner into the dark alley nearby; those listening for it heard the crack of apparition.
There was a brief silence as Ron absentmindedly picked at his plate. Hermione had a worried look on her face.
Ron took Hermione's hand and squeezed. "Hey, enough of that look. I'm sure Harry can take care of himself."
"Yes, I know. But I can't help but worry that he is going to sacrifice his life for the rest of us…again."
"Let's hope he's not that much of a fool. Hogging all the limelight for being noble and sacrificial and all that. That is, without me." Ron deadpanned.
"Oh, Ron."
A/N - This chapter has officially finished undergoing reconstruction! If you see any errors, please point them out in a review or PM.
Hopefully the sort of new and old parts of the story will make it better.
Lots of cyber-love for those who review!