Listen to the Wind
By K. Jorgensen
Category: Friendship, Drama, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Romance
Characters: Harry, Filius
Ships: Harry/Ginny, Ron/Hermoine
Rating: K+
Spoilers: AU after Fifth book.
Summary: Years after the war, as a Charms Apprentice to Filius Flitwick, Harry finally has to deal with the effects of the war on himself and the people he loves.
DISCLAIMER: Lady Muse commands me and I obey, but I, alas, own nothing.
Author Notes: This is my first serious attempt at a Harry Potter fanfic, and I know that it's probably mediocre. At any rate, I wanted to try and my muse cooperated, so here we go. I've always loved Harry being mentored, but I'm not good at McGonagall, and Snape and Dumbledore are both overdone so I thought I'd try an unusual character. Enter Filius. Title based off of Lucy Dalton's song. Also, I know Flitwick is supposed to be really short but that would make things difficult, so imagine he's about five feet or so.
Dedication: To S. Mathes. Thanks for the snarky remarks and the friendship.
"How Clear, How Lovely Bright"
...Listen to the wind
And the driving Rain
Listen close
And you'll hear 'em saying
That what goes 'round,
Will come around again.
Listen to the wind....
The leaves had turned gold and crimson, with flecks and patches of green and a low undertone of brown. The sun was still warm despite the brisk wind.
Harry shrugged on a jacket against the cutting cold, a quilted overcoat with tan leather collar and cuffs. He shoved his hands into the pockets of his gray slacks.
The leaves hung over him in arches, with walls of tall oaks and robust maples, leaves rustling with his every step.
He breathed in, releasing it in a slow gasp. The little clearing was tranquil in the early hours of the morning, with grey skies and white mist that swirled about the trunks of trees.
But still Harry's forehead creased with lines, his eyes faded to a dull green with fatigue.
Fall hung still and quiet – Harry a motionless observer.
He had become a tall, thin man who looked down at the leaves, utterly resigned, black head cocked slightly to the side, broad shoulders hunched, bunching his jacket up into clumps.
Just watching the sun rise, with ripples of red and petals of pink, and listening to the faint voice of the wind through the trees.
Filius woke slowly, rejoicing in the comfortable warmth and peace that came with sleep. He listened for an instant – just the sound of wind against the shutters, and eyed his burgundy bedspread, ruminating about rousing himself.
In no great hurry, he leisurely arose, donning his dark blue dressing gown as he ambled out of his bedroom, shutting the dark wood door behind him.
The door to Harry's room was ajar, and Filius sighed, tucking one hand into his pocket. He scowled, the sight unusual on the jovial wizard. Harry hadn't told him that he was having nightmares again.
The oak floor of the kitchen was chilly, even through his slippers and Filius cast a quick warming charm, as he tapped the full kettle with his wand. The ward for temperature control would be have to redone soon he decided, if the cold was managing to seep so well through the walls.
Steam came pouring out of the kettle in great clumps as he heaved it up, filling the teapot with the scalding liquid. As it steeped he mused rather leisurely, about the benefits of retirement.
Fewer children, although to be honest, Harry was just a large child, as well as more sleep, fewer hours and best of all, peace and quiet. Filius absentmindedly tucked his wand into his sleeve, as he poured the tea.
Two cups. Harry liked cream and sugar, while he added only a dash of cream to his, a single white spot in the dark tea.
Taking a hold of each patterned saucer, Filius walked through the sitting room as he proceeded out onto the front porch of his house.
Blowing the steam off of his cup as he leaned against the wooden bench, Filius scanned the splendid plumage of the forest with curiosity, and not the slightest tinge of anxiety.
Worry could come later at noontime when Harry still had yet to return. Though, he ruminated, sipping gingerly at the hot liquid, it wasn't as if he had done that frequently. Just once or twice.
Fishing his wand out again with one hand, the teacup and saucer awkwardly cradled in his left, he cast another warming charm. The weather was getting to be rather cold outside.
He bided his time, watching the way the sun rose orange, with fringes of pink and light undertones of lavender. The chilled air stung his nose, and he could feel the sharp breezes through his dressing gown.
Harry's teacup sat beside him on the bench as he waited. The wind blew his white hair into wisps, and sent steam billowing from both tea cups. He tapped his fingers on the wooden bench to the sound of the William Tell Overture sounding in his memories to pass the time.
Slightly chilled, but not wanting to go inside without Harry, Filius sighed with relief as he saw Harry emerge from the forest, long dark hair blowing in the wind, his features looking troubled and his mouth in a scowl.
The distance between the great forest and Filius' cottage wasn't very large, a scant few hundred yards, and within three minutes Harry stood on the porch.
"Good Morning, Harry."
"Morning, Professor." Harry said rather reservedly and Filius felt that fond chiding feeling come over him, and resisting the urge to shake his head, he handed Harry his teacup.
Harry wrapped his fingers, red with cold around the warm cup, the faint appearance of dark stubble crusting his cheeks. He half reclined on the dark, Filius companionably sitting beside him, listening to the sounds of birds chirping and the glorious sights of fall.
They stayed that way for some time as the light mist rose, even though both of their tea cups were empty.
Clad only in his dressing gown, and growing rather stiff with cold, Filius' slight build shook with chill. Ever solicitous Harry startled, and picking up the two teacups, gently herded Filius through the door.
Hustling him to an armchair, he handed Filius a blanket he had conjured from somewhere and in some seconds short of a minute, had a warm mug tucked into Filius' hands.
"Thank you very much, Harry. But I think I'll be quite alright now." He said, wincing at the guilt-stricken look on Harry's face. His apprentice was so careful nowadays. So very careful.
"Are you sure, Filius?" He chuckled with amused annoyance, now Harry would call him by his given name! But no matter.
"Yes, I rather think so. – But I do think that it's getting a bit cold for your sojourns into the forest." He called out to Harry who was hanging up his jacket.
"Yes, well I don't think I can give them up…. Besides I had a proper jacket and you didn't." Harry's voice had an oddly pleading note in it and Filius shifted in the chair.
"You sound like Minerva, Harry." Filius grumbled, albeit good naturedly.
"Funny. I thought rather like Hermoine actually."
"They are eerily similar aren't they? You should have heard Minerva when she was still a student. Practically gushed over her, she did."
"The thought of Professor McGonagall gushing over anyone is a bit startling." Harry retorted, taking some eggs out of the refrigerator and waving his wand at the loaf of bread on the counter.
"I'd best not mention how she pleased she was with you then." Filius raised an eyebrow. Harry said nothing, obviously embarrassed. He never had taken to praise well. "You haven't seen Hermoine recently, have you?"
"No. I thought I'd floo over and see her soon. Her letter said that she wanted me to see something that she was working on." Cracking a smile, Harry said self-deprecatingly "I probably won't be able to understand it anyway, so I don't really see the point, but Hermoine wants me to, so I will."
"Don't be ridiculous, Harry. Remember I've seen what you can do." Filius nodded enthusiastically.
"Maybe with Charms, Filius. But competing with Hermoine at Transfiguration? No sir." Harry replied, shaking his head
"Minerva seemed to think that you had just as much talent as your father, if not more." Filius said, watching the bread fall onto the cutting board.
"She was soft on my Dad. Besides, now that he's gone, people think better of him." Harry said, rather sadly, in the way only an orphan could.
"I wouldn't say that's true, Harry. Besides, Minerva is most perceptive."
"Probably why Hermoine jumped at a Mastery with her." Harry hedged, his face a puzzle of confusion and deep thought as he filled a saucepan with water. "Though the Transfiguration bit just added to the attraction, I suppose." Harry called from the pantry, coming out holding two jars of preserves. "Hmm... Filius, what do you think, raspberry or apple-pear?"
"I should think you live to spoil me, Harry. Raspberry, though." Filius said rather cheerily, scrunching his nose up in concentration as he waved his hand in the direction of the still steaming teapot, wandlessly accio-ing it.
Gently settling it down on the tabletop, he poured himself another cup of tea, adding a dash of cream.
"I thought that was what slaves - I meant apprentices were supposed to do." Harry was making toast as the eggs boiled, and no doubt soon he would have bacon frying.
"I am not Severus." Filius said very seriously, taking as sip from his cup, nearly spitting it out at the look on Harry's face.
"Merlin's beard, I hope not." Harry snorted, as Filius laughed heartily. "What's so funny?" He added nearly grumpily.
"The thought -- of you and -- Severus, living together as Master and Apprentice!"
"I thought that was what Professor Dumbledore was for, so I could get a Potions Mastery without Snape."
"Very true." Flitwick acknowledged, as a dish with a bowl of soft-boiled eggs and toast complete with bacon materialized in front of him. He took a bite. "Have I ever said that your cooking skills are delectable, Harry?"
"Yes, and not infrequently, to be honest."
"Well, to continue that other train of thought, Harry, I personally think that we'd have to celebrate your funeral first, not Severus'." Filius mopped up some yolk with his raspberry preserved toast, nodding as the mail owl came in. "Here's the owl with the post." Holding up a slice of bacon, the tawny owl took it with a hoot, as Filius unloosened the few letters and Daily Prophet from its leg.
"Thanks." Harry said, taking the Prophet from Filius and setting it beside his place. "Don't you have more faith in me that that, Filius? I'm sure that I would be able to outlast Snape." Harry pouted, sliding onto the oak chair opposite as he waved his wand. Immediately the dishes began to clean themselves in the sink.
"More tea, Harry?" Filius offered, one hand around the handle of the teapot. "At any rate, Severus did manage to spy successfully on Voldemort for almost a decade. No mean feat that." He stared rather intently, almost pensively at a slice of toast.
"Hmm, yes please." Harry held out his cup, then adding cream and sugar. Stirring his tea, he continued, "Still, I've survived several tête à tête encounters with 'flees from death' before. Surely that counts in my favor?" Harry joked, rather flippantly.
"Yes, and we all know what happened at the final battle." Foolish! Filius cursed under his breath at his faux pas as Harry's face fell, and things had been going so well this morning. Harry flipped through the Prophet, the awkward silence grew and stayed on in the kitchen, as he mumbled bits of articles to himself.
Filius shoved his plate away as he took a new glance at his apprentice. Well, to be fair, Harry was almost a Charms Master in his own right. Dark circles pooled under his green eyes, somber and weary. Too little sleep, and probably too much work about Ginny. He sighed, playing with the tea cup. Ginny. What a tragedy.
"Hmm." Harry murmured, toast held idly in one hand, "seems Professor Dumbledore is retiring as Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot and the Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards." He seemed taken aback, and spun the paper so the article faced Filius.
"I'm not surprised" Filius said candidly, "He mentioned it to me once or twice of late about retiring to his villa."
"But – he's Dumbledore. He can't just retire!" Harry sputtered, waving his slice of toast, rather dramatically.
"Why ever not?" Filius said sensibly. "I did. And as near as I can discern, Albus is substantially older than I am."
"No offense meant, Filius, but you weren't Grand Sorcerer, Headmaster of Hogwarts, Supreme Mugwump, Chief Warlock, the list goes on and on. He's done more in his lifetime that I could hope to do in three." Harry sounded more like the twenty something that he actually was, instead of a cynical battle-hardened warrior.
"All the more reason for Albus to retire," Filius stated mildly but with some force. "He's done enough, Harry, time to let someone else shoulder the burdens of the Wizarding World. Let an old man have some peace."
"I suppose that's true," Harry said, lifting his and Filius' plates, sliding them into the sink and waving his wand absently.
"Don't worry, Harry. I'm sure the Wizarding World won't hesitate to call upon you for any problems now that Albus is gone." He said slyly, heading out of the door, hand pressed on the door knob.
"Filius!" Harry growled, throwing an annoyed glance towards the door, only to see his irritating mentor had already vanished. "Great. Now I get the lauded position of Advisor to the Ministry, the bunch of idiots that they are. Can't I just let Draco do it? He bribes them enough, surely." He asked the oak cabinetry, shaking his head.
He double-checked to make sure the kitchen was clean, before shutting the honey oak door behind him. He headed to his rooms, the heels of his boots sounding sharply on the polished wooden floors, one hand gently tracing the enchanted ivy growing on the wall.
The other hand tucked into his pocket, navy blue dress shirt rumpled where he had rolled up the sleeves to make breakfast. He leaned against his door frame heavily for an instant, before jerking his head up, and almost furtively, slipped into his rooms, without a sound.