Author's Note: Hey everyone!! This is our first Harry Potter fanfiction!! I introduced my friend to fanfiction only a few weeks ago and she's already addicted!!! I have been for a few years! By the way by us I mean me (I'd rather keep my name confidentiel) and my best-friend Sabrina! So without further ado, here's are first story together!! We hope you enjoy it!!
Disclaimer: We don't own the Harry Potter characters …. We wish we did!! But we don't, that's life for you.
Life experiences
Chapter 1: The choice
It was one of those days, not to warm, not to chilly. The light breeze brushed across the top of the trees and lightly made the leaves rustle. A mood of depression hung in the air as Harry walked up to the stand. He placed his wand to his throat, and murmured a spell under his breath so when he spoke, the whole gather of people could hear.
-"Today we are gathered here to remember those who fought to the death in one of the biggest wizard war of our time. I'm here to speak for a man that was there for me in times when I thought there was no one. Remus was a man of few words, but when he did speak, he chose his words wisely. I'm very grateful to have met such a man, a good friend to my father, as to me. For those who rejected Remus because of his condition should be very ashamed and grief-stricken to have not been able to know such a wonderful human being. He was a brilliant husband to Tonks and would have been an astonishing father. It pains me deeply that his son will suffer the same fate as me, never to see the loving face of his father everyday… I apologize that this is all I can manage to say for now, thank you."
His lips trembling, tears mounting to his eyes, he walk down from stand and disappeared in the back of the group of people gathered in the Weasley's garden. He had a whole speech prepared but he just hadn't had the courage to continue. It had already been enough that he had actually accepted to make a speech at the funeral… Just too many memories…
He stayed at the back the rest of the funeral and silently watched as many others went up and did their part. Ginny kept staring at him a worried look on her face but he just couldn't bare to look back. Everyone cried. For every family who lost a daughter or son, for every husband who lost a wife, for every child who lost their parents, tears were shed in their memory.
Harry paid his respects to all those who were close to him and at the end of the ceremony slowly walked away. Deep in thought he didn't realize where he was heading. Ginny tried to follow him yet she was cut off by her mother sobbing away for the lost of her son. Harry walked on for a few minutes and decided to settle by the pond. For a mere ten minutes he sat in silence, letting the wind caress his cheeks. His thoughts wondered. He thought about his life, the lives that were taken, Snape, his mother and father, Dumbledore, the battle, Ginny… He had so much to still figure out… so much he needed to see for himself.
-"Are you alright?"
Harry looked up startled. He was so lost in his thoughts that he hadn't even token notice that Hermione had come to sit down beside him.
-"Sorry didn't mean to scare you; you just looked quite troubled there for a second?" She asked a hint of worry in her voice.
-"Yeah, I'm fine" he answered. "It's just a little difficult that's all… I mean we've been trying to defeat Voldemort for so long that I never stop to think about my future… what I would do afterwords, were would I go. I guess I prepared myself so much for the final battle, thinking that I probably wasn't going to survive that I never realized what would happen if I did?"
He sighed and looked up at the sun that was now setting along the horizon. The sky was a mixture of pink and orange, with a hint of mauve. It was breathtaking. The reflection it cast on the clear blue pond made as if there were two skies instead of one.
"I know what you mean." Hermione said faintly. "It's like for some reason before everything had to be done as fast as possible! We couldn't waste anything as precious as space and time. Yet now, it feels like we've got all the time in the world!"
Harry looked up at her. He truly did feel that Hermione understood him… They shared a special bond. One only very close sibling would share. He put an arm around her shoulder as she leaned her head on his. They stayed silent for a while, just staring at the horizon, and once the sun finally set and darkness crept up on them Harry chose this time to speak his mind.
"I'm leaving." He whispered.
Hermione broke from their position and looked up at him. "Leaving?" She exclaimed. "When are you planning on doing this? Where would you go?"
"Well I'd go wherever my feet took me." Harry replied simply. "I need some time to think Hermione. Some time for me. I want to see things, go places…"
"You don't think it's time to relax a little bit?" Hermione asked, concerned. "After all we've been on the move for a year now. Shouldn't we be taking it easy?"
"I will be taking it easy don't worry." Harry answered, holding up his hands in defense. He knew how Hermione could sometimes get so worried about him. "I just need some time alone that's all, see the world. I shouldn't be gone long; I'll be back before you know it, ready to start a new life. It's all part of the healing process I think. I want to forget my past and learn to look towards the future and for that I need to do this. Hermione, you of all people has to understand me."
Hermione look awfully in disagreement with Harry's sudden change in plan, nevertheless she nodded and said. "I understand."
They sat in silence again for a few seconds. It was almost pitch black out by now. The sun had disappeared and the only thing illuminating the nights sky was its brother the moon which sawn so brightly that Harry could still make out Hermione's features. He was thinking about how lucky he actually was to have such great friends when she spoke.
"Are you planning on telling Ginny or anybody else?" she asked not looking at him straight in the eye.
"No." He answered. "And you must promise not to tell them anything. I'm thinking of leaving Ginny a note so she won't worry. She'll probably be mad and I completely understand but since the battle we haven't been that closes anyway so what will this change?"
Hermione noticed that his voice was shaking; something must have taken a wrong turn in their relationship. She put a comforting hand on his arms. "Hey, Ginny waited for you this long… I'm sure she'll be able to for a couple more weeks. As long as you leave her a little something to remember you by, I'm sure she'll be fine."
"I hope." Harry sighed. "As for the others, they'll get over it I'm sure, they have each other. Ron has you, I'm sure me leaving for a while won't be the end of the world."
"I guess." Hermione said smiling slightly.
"Hey!"
Harry and Hermione turned around. Ron was running towards them, panting slightly. "Hey! pant, pant there you two are! pant, pant we've been looking all over for you two! pant, pant what have you been doing?" He asked quizzically. "You guys almost missed the whole after party."
Hermione got up and gave Harry a 'we'll talk some more later' look and then turned to face Ron. "We were just talking and mourning in solitude." She answered simply.
"Well how could you have been in solitude if you were together?" Ron asked confused.
"It's not important Ronald," Hermione said rolling her eyes. "What's important right know is that you ask me to dance." She smiled
"Oh alright, but only once!" he smirked, putting an arm around Hermione's waist. "Hey Harry, are you coming?" He asked.
"Yeah, I'll be there in a second." Harry answered, still gazing at the smooth surface of the pond. He heard Ron and Hermione make their way back to the Burrow and soon he felt that he was truly alone. He sat there a couple more minutes thinking before finally getting up. He started walking away when he noticed a stone on the ground. He picked it up and threw it in the air, catching back in his palm afterwords. He stared at it for a while. It was your regular everyday stone, boring, gray, lifeless and yet he, Harry Potter, the chosen one had decided to pick it up.
He rolled it around in his palm a few more times before he swiftly turned around and threw it as far as he could into the pond. With a slight splash, the pebble sunk to the bottom of the pond leaving ripples along the once calm and smooth surface of the small pond.
Harry wondered how such a small thing could have changed the whole course off the pond. How such a small thing made such a powerful impact. He wondered why he, himself, had been chosen to do the same…
Well that's it for the first chapter! We know nothing much has really happened yet but it's just to introduce the basic stuff you know! Not a lot of fluff though either. We must say were really sorry! Harry is in more of a serious mood right now, but don't worry it will get way better! Promise! Anyways Read and Review please! Chow
P.s. The after party for the funeral was made to be fun in the memory of Fred, that's why there's dancing. Just didn't want to confuse anyone.