Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. This story is merely a fanfic based on J.K Rowling's series
Chapter One
Harry was sprinting through the Dark Forest; Lord Voldemort, soaring unsupported by Thestrals or broomsticks, was about five feet off the ground, tailing him and firing killing curses after him. Harry felt a great surge of fear and in his panic ran deeper and deeper into the forest. He stumbled over an enormous root which turned into Nagini who turned her great head and lunged to bite with exposed fangs-
Suddenly there was a pair of cold, pale, spider-like hands on him, pinning him against the root he stumbled over. Harry was forced to look into Voldemort's terrible face – the white, reptilian face with no mercy in its scarlet eyes. Voldemort opened his mouth, his wand raised, but when he spoke, it was in a voice very unlike his own.
"Harry, wake up!!!"
Harry sat up suddenly, his face shining with cold sweat. It was the middle of July, two weeks after Voldemorts' death. He reached for his glasses at the edge of the side table with a slightly shaky hand. Slowly coming into focus was Ron, who standing next to Harry's bed.
"Harry, everyone is already at the breakfast table and mum won't start breakfast without you," he said in an annoyed tone, "so hurry up before I go berserk too." Ron's face suggested that there was something other than breakfast that was making him so brusque this morning.
"What's up?" Harry asked as he got up from the bed. His racing heart had finally slowed down, and he was able to think calmly now.
"It's nothing," he said offhandedly as Harry stood up. "Ginny was coming up stairs when I was coming up to wake you, and she said that she would go call you, I said I don't want- I mean I'll do it." he said, his ears turning red.
"Oh, ok," said Harry, feeling a bit resentful towards Ron. He wasn't fooled; he knew Ron was thinking about the time when he and Hermione had accidentally walked in on him when he had been blissfully snogging Ginny.
Ron motioned at Harry, and the two of them walked to the kitchen, happily discussing Quidditch, both trying to cover the sticky moment in Ron's room.
They arrived at the kitchen to find only Mrs. Weasley, standing in front of the stove, her wand raised.
"Hello, Harry dear, everyone is waiting for you, you'd better go outside," she said, beaming at him and pointing her wand outside "the kitchen is too small and since the Order is here, we're eating outside."
"Great, but aren't you coming?" asked Harry.
"Yes, I'll be out in a minute," she replied. Harry thought he heard a trace of sadness in her voice. No doubt, the loss of Fred was still paining her terribly. Harry bit back his own grief for Fred and forced a small smile, which Mrs. Weasley returned.
"C'mon, I'm starving," said Ron and they walked into the garden.
As done for Harry's birthday and countless other occasions, several tables had been pushed together to form one long table.
Harry and Ron chose seats at the very end of the table: Ron seated next to Hermione and Harry, next to Ginny. Ron gave him a look but did not say anything.
"G 'morning." Everyone greeted each other friendly enough but no one was fully relaxed. With the deaths of Tonks, Lupin, Fred and fifty others, the fact that Percy returned, Harry, Ron and Hermione had finished the quest Dumbledore set them, and Voldemort was now really dead, it was truly strange for everything to be over. An awkward silence followed. Then a conversation broke out about the usual: the Ministry and Hogwarts. Since Kingsley Shacklebolt was named temporary Minister for Magic, and he had joined them for breakfast, he was in a flow of all the things that needed to be done.
"Minerva McGonagall has been appointed Hogwarts Headmistress," said Kingsley, "Professors' for Defence Against the Dark Arts, Muggle Studies and Transfiguration need to be replaced and we need new heads of departments and countless other jobs"
"Speaking of jobs," said Mr. Weasley, addressing Harry, Ron and Hermione, "what are you three planning? Now that you're...task is over, you should be thinking of finding employment."
"I'm haven't decided," said Hermione. "Now that it's over, I was thinking of continuing with S.P.E.W… although I could work for the Ministry…" she sighed.
"Ron?" asked Mr. Weasley.
"Well… I want to be an Auror, and so does Harry," said Ron honestly.
"An Auror," said Kingsley thoughtfully, "hmm… that's interesting." He pondered about it for a few moments before saying, "If you two are serious, then I can have you trained in about two months." He smiled.
"Two months?" said Harry surprised. "Professor McGonagall said would take a couple of years and we haven't even finished seventh year at Hogwarts.
"Yeah, how does that work?" asked Ron eagerly.
"If the two of you evaded He Who Must Not Be Named for a year before finally destroying him, broke into Gringotts and the Ministry of Magic and whole lot thing you've done ever since Harry entered the Wizarding World, most of your education is pretty much completed," said Kingsley. "I just need to make sure you can brew certain poisons and antidotes as well as test your transfiguration skills, but beside that you're set before for taking the exam."
"That's brilliant," exclaimed Harry and Ron in unison, beaming widely. Harry thought about the situation. If he were to indeed train for the next two months at the Ministry, it would be convenient to move into number 12 Grimmauld Place.
"I think, that if I'm to become an Auror, I'll move to Grimmauld Place" said Harry slowly. Mr. Weasley looked at him. Ginny's jaw dropped. "I mean, I'm an adult now and it's convenient."
"Harry!" Mrs. Weasley seemed thoroughly shocked. She had just entered the room. "Are you sure? I mean, you're welcome to stay until you find a better place-"
"I'm sure. Besides, Kreacher is whole lot friendlier and he'll be great," he smiled at Mrs. Weasley. "You have a new chef to compete with."
Mrs. Weasley turned slightly pink. Perhaps she never encountered a better cook other than herself. "Of course not dear," she said. Ron snorted while Hermione and Ginny giggled. "But I expect to see you here every Sunday for dinner," she added in a would-be-stern voice if she were not looking so cheery.
After breakfast Harry Ron, Hermione and Ginny went out to the Paddock and played some two-a-side Quidditch, just like the times before Dumbledore's death. They played for a couple of hours before Ron said he wanted a cup of water and Hermione joined him. She gave Harry a significant look and he realized what she was trying to do. He thought of protesting at first, but then decided against it.
Harry found himself alone with Ginny for the first time in months. He looked down at her. She was watching him, looking slightly uneasy. No doubt because of the fact that he was going to leave. He approached her, his face feeling strangely warm.
"It's...really weird now. Now that Voldemort is really dead." Harry spoke slowly. Ginny was silent, watching him. His throat felt parched and Harry wished for a glass of water. "There are a lot of things that are before me that I couldn't think about before, like being an Auror. But right now, there's something that I...I want to ask you."
"Yes?" Ginny said quietly.
"Wannagoutwime?"
"What?" asked Ginny, with a confused look on her face. She hadn't been able to catch what he blurted out loud.
"Ginny, I… I was… will you… will you go out with me again?" Harry spluttered. Why oh why did he have to feel so stupid?
Ginny stood still for so long, Harry took it as a rejection and all hope he had turned to ashes. "Well, after all I put you through, I can understand if you won't. It's okay," Harry said, trying to cover up how much anguish he was in. He made to move away, desiring to be alone right then.
But suddenly, Ginny drew close to him and kissed him, the most spectacular kiss, more exhilarating than playing Quidditch and best moment of his life. He felt as if he had traveled back in time when they were in a sweet snogging oblivion last year. There was no need for words.
She stepped back and gave him her hard, blazing look that he simply adored. Her face was crimson. Harry could feel his own face burning too.
Before Harry could say anything, Ron had returned with Hermione. He grinned at her, hoping he looked normal and Ginny excused herself to go to the bathroom.
"What was that about," said Ron looking from Harry to the retreating back of Ginny but Hermione beamed. She never missed anything.
The next day, Harry was packing. The Weasleys were a bit surprised he leaving so soon but Harry insisted that he needed to be prepared to live in London as soon as possible.
Ron was joining him. As he too, was studying and the fact that Ron had no place of his own to stay, it was only fit for him to come along.
Hermione however, was going to Australia. She was dying to see her parents and reverse her memory charm on them. After that, she was planning to return to her parents' house.
"Don't worry, I'll write and visit too. Besides, I'm going to be visiting the Ministry to get a job in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures," she told Ron, Harry and Ginny.
She departed early the next morning, Disapparating so that she was gone in a matter of seconds. Ron watched the spot she was standing on moments ago with a forlorn expression until Harry reminded him that they couldn't wait here forever. They also left later the same morning. Before he left though, Ginny gave him a card she made by herself and a kiss. He promised to write especially to her.
Number 12 Grimmauld Place was the same as ever, with it being invisible to Muggles and had a definite grim air about it. He walked straight inside to find it unrecognizable. The rooms were immaculately clean, to the level where even Aunt Petunia would've despaired of ever achieving. The troll leg umbrella stand was actually standing and the robes they had used to disguise themselves were placed neatly on the rack above the umbrella stand.
"Wow, it looks so clean," said Ron in amazement. "I forgot how good Kreacher was at this sort of thing."
"Kreacher thanks you very much, sir," said a voice from the kitchen. Harry and Ron walked inside to find Kreacher cleaning the already-shining surfaces of the kitchen.
"Master Harry, how good it is to serve you," he said bowing deeply.
"Thanks," said Harry "Kreacher, I… I didn't thank you properly after Voldemort died. You were brilliant, leading the other house-elves to fight. You're… you're amazing," he finished.
"Kreacher thank you very much Master Harry," said Kreacher bowing again. "Would Master Harry like to see the surprise Kreacher fixed for him?"
"Ok," said Harry curiously. He, Ron and Kreacher leading the way, made their way upstairs. He noted how there was not a speck of dust on the great chandeliers and the plaques bearing the heads of Kreachers ancestors had been removed. Kreacher led them into the drawing room. Harry gasped in astonishment. The room seemed to have gone through a complete make over.
The room that was now brightly lit was furnished with two comfortable looking sofas that had been positioned around a small, circular coffee table. The ancient desk was standing behind a sofa, and had evidently been polished so thoroughly it shone. The Black Family Tree had been by some miracle, removed and now in its place, was a large, gold framed mirror.
"Kreacher, how did you remove that tapestry?" asked Ron incredulously, inspecting behind the mirror for any traces of the spell left.
"Kreacher is a house-elf sir. Kreacher was waiting for Master Harry to return and cleaned the house for him," said Kreacher proudly. Harry gazed at him in astonishment. He didn't think it was possible for anyone to remove the family tree and or any of their possessions off the walls.
"Kreacher was even able to remove the portrait of Mistress Black. But will Master Harry allow me to keep Black heirlooms?" asked Kreacher hopefully.
"Of course," said Harry. He was speechless. It was astounding what Kreacher could do. "Did you do this with every room in the house?" inquired Harry.
"Yes, Master Harry. All of them. Kreacher even cleaned Master Sirius's room. Master is happy?" said Kreacher, his voice full of pleasure.
"Brilliant! Thanks Kreacher," said Harry, unable to find any other words. Kreacher bowed, obviously delighted.
"Master will excuse me to prepare dinner," said Kreacher and he trotted downstairs. Ron stared after him.
"Blimey, and I think if the times I wished his head were going to be cut off and stuck on a plaque," said Ron after Kreacher was out of sight. Harry nodded his head in agreement.
Harry went upstairs to the next floor. He wanted to see how Kreacher cleaned Sirius's room and decided he would use it as his own room. Ron would be using the room he and Harry had shared when Sirius was still alive. He pushed the door open and looked inside.
Everything had been restored to look better than its former grandeur. The once-handsome headboard had been restored and Harry saw that the pictures Sirius owned as a teenager had been taken down and placed neatly in a cardboard box next to the desk. Though the posters were old and deemed no value, Harry felt reminded of Sirius's personality and refused to be rid of them. Instead, he placed them inside his closet. He unpacked the rest of his stuff (saving Kreacher a trip to his newly restored bedroom) and knocked on Ron's bedroom. Ron did not respond so he entered.
Ron had evidently finished unpacking his things. He was merely positioning a photo of Hermione on his bedside table so that he could wake up to see her face. He gazed at it with an oddly dreamy expression on his face. Harry had a sudden urge to laugh. Ron jumped up as he heard Harry came inside so he decided not to say anything. Ron blushed, eyes flickering to the photo back, before hastily saying, "So, d'you want to go and have some dinner?"
"Yeah, sure. Knowing Kreacher, he probably made something scrumptious," said Harry grinning. "I think I smell something already..."
They went back down stairs, this time peering inside all the rooms they passed by. Harry did not feel haunted by Sirius's memory at all, in fact, he was certain Sirius would have been pleased to see Harry happy.
They walked into the kitchen to find it warm friendly. They were completely surrounded in the aroma of tomato soup. Ron sniffed the air.
"Something smells delicious," said Ron. "Not a surprise though," he added. Harry nodded. They sat down at the table which had been laid out, complete with napkins with a fancy letter H on them. Kreacher approached carrying a silver tray and unloaded it. Ron dived at the soup while Harry thanked Kreacher. He beamed and excused himself.
They ate surprisingly fast and Harry sighed in satisfaction. Ron burped richly, patting his bloated stomach. "Do you know when we'll be starting our training?" he asked casually.
"Kingsley said he'll send an owl and then we need to send a reply," said Harry. He sighed sadly. He was reminded that he no longer had an owl.
Maybe Ron noticed because he said "I'll use Pig, but we need to visit Diagon Alley. For school supplies" he said quickly seeing Harry's confused look. Harry nodded again.
"But we need to find out exactly what we need," said Harry "so I guess we wait."
But they did not wait for too long. Clearly, the Weasleys had informed Kingsley about their departure for Grimmauld Place because they both received an official-looking letter from his office the very next day. It read:
Dear Mr. Potter,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at the Auror Training Center (A.T.C). Since your training is to be shortened due to the exception approved by Minister for Magic Kingsley Shacklebolt and Head of the Auror office Gawain Robards, the time spent training will be two months and you will graduate as soon as the two months have been completed. Start of term begins September the 1st. Please send your owl to ensure your place at the A.T.C.
Yours sincerely,
Allison Johns
Head Secretary of Auror Office
Enclosed with the letter was a list of supplies. But Harry did not so much as glance at it. Instead, he looked at Ron. He had also received a similar letter and seemed relieved by the letter. He grinned at Harry.
"So, it's official, we've been enrolled in their training process," said Ron, still grinning.
"It's weird isn't it? I hadn't even thought about what might happen if Voldemort died and I didn't," said Harry. "I didn't even dream about it."
"Hard to dream when you're in a nightmare," said Ron wisely. In the end, they two of them decided they would visit Diagon Alley the next day.
Ron headed off to the bathroom while Harry headed to the study which was conveniently located across the hall from his bedroom. He decided he would send a letter to Ginny. He headed up the stairs thinking about what to write. When he reached the study, he immediately drew a sheet of parchment, a bottle of ink and a quill from the drawers. He dipped the tip of the quill into the ink and wrote:
Dear Ginny,
So much has happened and we just moved in! Kingsley has sent an official approval from the Ministry about our training. Ron seemed relieved. He probably thought we might not receive any letter at all. We start training on September 1st like everyone else though. And you wouldn't believe what Kreacher did for us! He actually cleaned the entire house and even removed the tapestry of the Black Family tree! I'm missing you so much. I wish you were here. Maybe before you leave for Hogwarts and maybe at Platform 9 ¾, Ron and I'll see you. Write to me soon.
Love,
Harry
Harry re-read his letter. It seemed too short for comfort. Would Ginny be pleased? Or angry that he hadn't written a long love letter complete with details about dreams of her he'd dreamed at night. But surely Ginny would want something that sounded normal. He tried to think of what Hermione would say if he asked her about it. Probably that he should be normal, like himself. Harry looked at the clock. It was nearly eight o'clock. He was just sealing the parchment when Ron appeared, leaning against the door frame.
"So, what are you doing," he said, eyeing the parchment slightly suspicious, as if it had done him some offense in the past.
"Writing to Ginny," said Harry, deciding the truth was better than lying. Ron grunted and said, "Well you're going to have to send it later. We need to send our replies to the Ministry first." Harry nodded. They scribbled down a response and sent Pigwidgeon off to the Ministry, watching his tiny form fly into the distance.
The rest of the day was spent discussing what they were going to do for the next month and a half. Harry suggested that they visit Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and Ginny before she departed for Hogwarts. Ron agreed.
"How long do you think it will take for Hermione to get back from Australia?" he asked with an almost-casual air. Harry shrugged. "I mean, she needs to search all of Aus- ARRGH!"
A barn owl came out of the open window and landed on top Ron's head. Harry leapt up and grabbed the owl, placing it on the table. A neat scroll was tied to its leg and Harry removed it. He turned around and what he saw made him fall to the ground laughing.
The barn owl had left great white bird dropping in Ron's red hair. He looked as if he was partially finished transforming through the use of Polyjuice potions with his newly whitened hair.
Ron felt his hair which came away white and sticky and yelled in disgust. Kreacher came hurrying inside to see what all the commotion was about.
"Is something wrong Master?" Kreacher asked looking worried. Harry gasped for breath but then doubled over with laughter again. He just couldn't stop.
Ron looked at Kreacher said faintly "Yes, everything is just fine Kreacher." Harry took a deep breath and managed "Yeah, we're fine." Kreacher bowed and shuffled back into the kitchen.
Harry looked at Ron. He seemed really embarrassed now. He stood up and announced "I'm, going to take a shower, oh yeah and please don't tell anyone what happened." He was almost pleading, his ears a bright red.
"Of course," said Harry, still chortling. He picked up the scroll as Ron left the room. There were two. Written in Hermione's neat handwriting, was:
Ron Weasley
Around it was a perfectly drawn heart. Harry proceeded up the stairs and left in Ron's bedroom. It was best he didn't know what was written inside. The second scroll had his name on it. It read:
Dear Harry,
I'm sorry if this letter reaches you sometime in the night. It's hard to tell what time letters sent from Australia will reach England.
I've arrived in Australia and found the city I'd sent my parents to. It's a nice place and I hope I find them soon. After I've found them, I'm going to stay with them until they can book a flight back to London. It's good they didn't sell their house.
Speaking of houses, how are you faring? I hope you've nicely settled in Grimmauld Place by now. Have you applied to the Auror Training Centre yet? If so, I'd love to hear about what you have to study – an Auror is a fascinating job. You must get to learn loads about Defence Against the Dark Arts – not to say that you don't already! Say hello to Kreacher for me as well.
I've applied to work in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. Luckily, they're hiring and I spoke to Kingsley about it too. He said that I was only required to have O.W.L's in a couple of subjects so I'm prepared enough until I find something better. I'm really hoping to be able to continue with S.P.E.W. later, although this job may help me learn about house-elf rights. I hope to see you soon.
Love from,
Hermione
P.S. By the way, be careful of the barn owl. It has a nasty habit of letting its droppings land on people. However, he was the fastest I could find – I really wanted this letter to reach you fast.
Well there's the answer to Ron's question, thought Harry. He chortled as he read the postscript, remembering Ron's hair. He hardly noticed where he was going as he read the letter until he came to a halt at his bedroom door. It was a good day he thought. He'd moved in, he had a house-elf to help take care of him and he was in training for the career of his dreams.
He crawled into bed and slept well that night for the first time in weeks, unhaunted by any nightmares from the past.
