Since I skipped Harry's 6th and most of his 7th years, here's a list of important stuff that
happened during that time:
Ron and Hermione began going out (who didn't expect that to happen?) Harry, Ron and Hermione continued to hang out with Luna, though Harry the most because he really has the most in common with her. Ginny became a very powerful witch and similar to Hermione, and she and Hermione tend to mess with Ron's head a lot. When Harry killed Voldemort, something happened that really traumatized him (I'm not telling you what it was cause that would wreck the story, but just know that something happened) At the end of his 6th year, the Lestranges almost broke out of Azkaban when Voldemort went there to try and recruit dementors in yet another attempt to kill Harry. They didn't escape, but were able to send a note concerning their niece's and nephew's future involvement with Voldemort. The niece and nephew are twins, and at the time they were nine years old. Neville was instrumental in helping Harry defeat Voldemort. However, memories of his parents being tortured came back to him, and they have been reverberating in his head. Dumbledore has tried to talk to him once before, but nothing really came of that. Professor Trelawny's daughter found her mother at the end of Harry's 6th year, and soon afterwards she had a prophecy regarding Harry, Neville, and the He-Who-Brings-Great-Evil.That's about it. Enjoy!
Chapter 1- Aftermath
Hermione let out an annoyed grunt. Then another one. And another one. Then she realized how silly she must sound and let out a long sigh instead. Ron sighed inside his head and wished that Hermione talked soon, because she was really getting on his nerves. A second later, his wish was granted
"I wish he'd come out of his funk- I'm really starting to worry."
"Starting?" Ron asked wryly.
"Oh, you know what I mean. It's not healthy. And not just because all of the textbooks say it isn't, because it's Harry and he's got to start letting out what he feels.
"Well, he did a bit to Luna when he first returned-"
"And since then has said practically nothing. He doesn't even eat well! The other day, I asked him if he wanted mashed potatoes or turnips, and he just saidHarry and 'well, what does it matter anyway, it's just nutrients going into futile body.' He really said that! God, I just wish I could do something!" She paused, gasped, and her eyes lit up. "Oh my god, it's so simple, why didn't I see it before?"
She jumped up and began pacing, murmuring to herself. Ron had a pretty good guess what it was that she'd thought of, and he didn't like it. "Hermione, you can't make him do it if he's not willing to do it himself…"
"No! See, that's the problem, that we've let him let himself go. We've let him completely indulge in his sorrow. He's never going to pull himself out of it, so we've got to do it for him. And I don't care how much you try to talk me out of it, you're not changing my mind." And with that, she marched up to Harry's dorm with that determined look on her face, and Ron could not help but feel a sorry for Harry and what he was going to get.
* * *
Harry didn't know how long he'd been lying in his bed. The hours seemed to melt into days seemed to melt into weeks now. Wow, his sense of time was really skewed. His sense of everything was really skewed.
When he had defeated- correction, killed- Voldemort, he'd felt so...jubilant. Yet somehow he then became very disoriented, and he didn't even know he was in such a state until he couldn't pull himself out. For if he'd recognized he was slipping, he certainly would have tried to pull himself out.
Or would he have? Ah, well, it didn't really matter now how many woulda, shoulda, coulda scenarios he came up with; they wouldn't replace the reality he was in. One comforting thought, though, was that at least he didn't have to face other people as the...being that he was.
He would have continued his wallowing had Hermione not burst into the room, singing, "You gotta, get up, you gotta get up, you gotta get up in the morning. You gotta get up, you gotta get up, you gotta get up today!" She began trying to open the curtains, whose rod, unfortunately for her, had broken long ago.
"Shut up!" Harry cried, covering his ears. "That song's annoying as hell!"
Hermione stopped trying to pull open the curtains, (rather, gave up, but she'd never admit that to herself) turned and stared at Harry for a second. She was relieved that he finally expressed a normal emotion. She'd been reading up on his condition and worried more with each day. But she quickly checked that reaction and responded with a "Don't you talk to me like that, Harry Potter! You've been lying here for weeks, doing nothing, not even eating properly, and it's gone on long enough! In 15 minutes, I will come back to take you down to breakfast. If you choose to, you may put on clothes and brush your teeth. If not, I will just drag you into the Great Hall in your pajamas- something which I'm sure Draco Malfoy would enjoy seeing." She paused and turned to leave. "Good morning," she added as an after thought and as a parting.
Partly for the sake of appearances and partly because he felt it, Harry put a shocked look on his face as if he had been deliberately wronged. However, a small part of him- mind you, a very small part- was just the tiniest bit glad that Hermione was forcing him to live his life again, because he didn't have the strength to force himself to.
Reluctantly, he dragged himself out of bed, felt around for his glasses, and shuffled off to the bathroom. He washed up and shoved on jeans and a sweatshirt. He didn't feel like wearing robes and if he had to go out, not one was sure as hell going to force him to. Come to think of it, that would be a good way to escape, freak out about some comment someone made on his clothes and go running back to the dorm. They all thought he'd gone crazy anyway, why not act it?
"Harry?" Hermione's voice came softly from the other side of the door. "I'm coming in, so if you're not dressed…well, please be."
Harry smiled to himself at her inadvertent ad-libbing. It was rare to see her in an unpoised moment. Hermione turned the knob and entered a little cautiously (in case he really wasn't dressed). She peeked around the door, then opened it the whole way and practically leapt to him, grabbing his arm quite forcefully and dragging him out the door. She had pulled him down the stairs, across the common room, and out of the portrait hole before he complained that she was hurting his arm. She eased up, and then they walked slowly down to the Great Hall.
* * *
"You ready?" She asked him.
"Would it matter if I said no?" he half-sighed.
Hermione smiled and pushed open the door. As she did so, almost everyone turned to look in their direction. Immediately, there was mass whooping and clapping. Harry just walked quickly, trying not to meet anyone's eyes.
Thankfully, Dumbledore stood up to speak, so everyone quieted down. "As you have all noticed, Harry Potter is back. I ask you to join me in raising your goblets to toast him on his defeat of Voldemort."
Some people still flinched at the name, but everyone raised their glasses and even began clapping again, but Dumbledore raised his hand for silence. "Yes, we are all very happy and relieved that this threat is no longer among us. However, there are a few announcements I must make. First of all, although I am sure you would all like to welcome Harry back, I must remind you that you all still have classes to attend, and older students have O.W.L.'s and N.E.W.T.'s to study for. Secondly, Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall are back, which I am sure you are over the moon about (many students rolled their eyes at this comment), and they expect you to remember everything you've learned while they were away. So if you've been goofing off with the substitute, I advise you to brush on your information. And that's it for this morning. Have a good day." Then he sat down and resumed eating.
Most of the students began grumbling about the teachers being back and forgot, at least for the moment, about Harry. Harry felt very grateful to Dumbledore on giving him some respite from everyone's stares. However, there were still his friends at the Gryffindor table who would not forget him. It was a good thing, he supposed, but not one which he wanted particularly much at the moment. He put some pancakes and syrup on his plate and began eating to avoid looking at them. He wondered how long he would last before he got full (he wasn't all that hungry to begin with), so he ate very slowly.
He was vaguely aware of them making hand signals and mouthing things so he wouldn't hear, but of course he couldn't confirm it because in order to do that he would have to look up and then they might start speaking to him; and he just couldn't handle that yet. He kept on taking food until finally the bell rang and they started getting up to go to class. Ron left his side for a moment, talked in hushed tones to Hermione and a few other people, then returned. Soon the Great Hall was empty and it was just the two of them. Harry put his fork down, took a deep breath, and turned to face the person next to him.
He was then very surprised when he saw that it was not Ron beside him. It was Luna.
"Uh.." Harry was stunned for a second. "Um, hi."
"Hi," she replied. Then she became silent, waiting for him to speak. She was rather content to have the both of them continue looking at each other until he was ready to speak.
Harry, on the other hand, was uncomfortable continuing the silence for more than a few seconds. They may call her 'loony,' but she had quite a sane and penetrating gaze. He hated being under it so intently.
"What do you want me to say?" He had intended for it to come out defensive, but it came out kind of deflated.
"What do you want to say?" She asked frankly. She was not making this easy for him.
"I have nothing to say really. I think." He paused. "I don't know."
"What don't you know?"
"What I want to say."
"How can you figure it out?"
"I don't know."
"You don't know a lot"
"Thanks for the observation." He was getting pretty annoyed now.
"You're welcome." Then they were both silent again. Luna decided to try another approach. "What are you going to do today?"
"I don't know"
"So figure it out. Set a goal for today and use the time to accomplish it."
"Good thinking, my dear shrink."
"Ha ha."
"I wasn't joking."
"Neither was I. And I'm not trying to be your shrink. I'm trying to help you start doing stuff again. As in, getting up, working on something, going to sleep, etc."
"Thanks but no thanks. And besides, even if I did take your sagely advice, I wouldn't even have a goal, so it's a moot point either way." He met her eyes for a second, then sat back and tried to give off a very blasé air.
Luna smiled inwardly. Oh, yes, she was getting somewhere. "What do you think is worthwhile to do?"
"I don't think much is worthwhile, really. Anymore."
"What about something for another person?"
"Yeah, like who?"
"Who needs something?"
"I don't know."
"Well, then stop feeling bad for yourself long enough to devote some thought to it."
Somewhere in the back of Harry's brain, it occurred to him that Luna had just insulted him. But he tried to listen to her and really think of someone who needed something. "Neville," he said quietly.
"What does Neville need?"
"He needs to cut out a section of his memory, that's what he needs."
"You can't do that for him."
"Well, then he needs to feel better somehow."
"So make him feel better."
Harry sighed. No way could he do that. How was he supposed to? He couldn't even fend for himself. Yet, his mind turned back to when Neville had fought so bravely for his, Harry's, sake, even though it made him hurt inside as well as out. "I owe him," Harry more thought than said, but he said it out loud.
"Friends don't measure things owed. But ignoring that- okay. So…?"
"So- what?"
"So what are you going to do for him?"
"I don't know."
She didn't say anything, but she didn't need because Harry knew exactly what she was thinking. "Yeah, yeah, I don't know a lot. So what else is new?" He rolled his eyes and got up from the table to leave. Luna almost followed, but she shook her head and resolved (for the thousandth time) to stop babying him. If he was to act normal, she'd have to start treating him that way.
Harry was slightly irritated with Luna, but not really angry at her. The problem was that she refused to take any crap from him, or let him feed it to himself. That was a good thing, he supposed, you know, to have someone look out for you and do that for you. But it was just so inconvenient for him.
* * *
Hermione and Ginny walked to the common room quietly but not silently. Well, their heads weren't silent, at least. Finally, Ginny could not take her own head anymore.
"Hermione?"
Hermione didn't respond.
"Hellooo?" Ginny bugged out her eyes and stood in front of Hermione. "Come back, the aliens don't need you that bad."
"Huh?" Hermione snapped out of it and noticed Ginny, and interpreted the last comment. "Oh sorry, my head's screwed up. Were you saying something to me?" Hermione slurred her words a bit, as if she'd just gotten up, or some drugs had just worn off.
"Well, I was about to, then I had to wake you up, and now here we are." She paused and got to her point. "I'm really nervous for him."
"Yeah, no kidding."
"Is he gonna be okay? Ever?"
"I don't know. I'm hoping that since I got him up this morning, he'll start getting up and doing things on his own."
"How did you know it would be good for him?"
"What, getting him up?"
"Yeah."
"I didn't. I still don't."
There was an uneasy pause. Ginny decided to try another subject.
"When do N.E.W.T.'s start?"
"In two weeks. I don't how I'm going to pass them."
"Hermione, you go into every test saying you'll fail, and then you get the highest grade in the class."
"Yes, but this test could be different. It is different."
Ginny looked at her sideways. "You know, you say that with every other test, too."
Hermione swatted at her. "Well, at least I'll do better than that brother of yours, unless he decides to actually be serious and study."
"Hmp!" Ginny snort-laughed. "That's likely to happen."
"Well, it will soon, because if not I'll be riding him hard to make him do what he has to."
Ginny raised her eyebrows. Hermione noticed the lack of response and turned to her, confused.
"What? Oh…" Hermione realized why Ginny was raising her eyebrows, and she flushed. "Oh, Ginny, honestly, you're as bad as boys! Not everybody thinks that way, darling. And besides, if I meant that- which I certainly do not- I would not be mentioning it to you, his sister, don't you think that would be a little awkward?"
As if this wasn't awkward. Ginny nodded and they resumed walking quietly, this time with Hermione thinking about something else, and making faces and shaking her head a lot.
They arrived at the common room, gave the password, and went inside.
"Harry's not here, is he?" she asked Neville.
"No," he replied, without even looking up from his book, The De Vinci Code.
Ginny went up to the dorm to get a book, too, and then returned to sit by the fire. Hermione went up to her dorm and stayed there. After a few minutes, Ginny heard the portrait swing open and turned to see who it was.
Harry took a breath and entered. People always turned to look when the portrait hole opened, but in his case, unfortunately, they kept on looking. He scanned the room for Neville, but he didn't see him because he was in a corner, with the back of the chair facing away from the entrance. Harry met Ginny's eyes for a second, but quickly moved on. Girls just wanted to talk about things just so damn much. He needed a guy just to drink beer and watch football with (or a non-alcoholic Hogwarts version of it, he wasn't really picky).
He walked for what seemed an interminable length to the stairs, then climbed up to his dorm. He opened to door to find Ron and Dean playing chess. Ron was winning by a huge margin, as usual.
"Hey," they greeted him, looking up only for a moment before returning to the game.
"Hey." Harry came over to sit on Ron's bed and watch.
"Checkmate!" Ron said triumphantly. Dean groaned with a practiced martyred expression on his face.
"All right, enough, we played three games already- my pieces aren't going to trust me anymore."
"Any more takers?" Ron looked at Harry.
Harry had been going to ask where Neville was, but decided that that could wait until later. He nodded at Ron and sat down across from him.
"Black or white?" Ron asked.
"Black," Harry replied.
Ron gave him white.
"Jerk."
"Thanks. Proud of it."
Then they sat and played in comfortable silence, punctuated only by Harry's annoyed remarks as Ron systematically picked apart his defense. No Death Eaters, no Voldemort, no deep conversations…
Beer and football, Harry thought, should be a way of life.
* * *
Three black-hooded figures stood near the edge of the forest, barely visible even though it was broad daylight.
"We don't have to wait much longer," one said. "Soon the boy will be out of school and ours for the kidnapping."
"Yes," the second one replied almost blissfully. "And he'll be such easy prey, you know, with all that trauma, poor thing." He laughed, a short and derisive laugh.
"Is everything set up?" the first one asked, turning.
"Yes," the third one said, "The details were confirmed yesterday."
"Excellent. Now about the second par-" He paused. Something- or someone- was rustling in the bushes. He tensed up and reflexively cried, "Stupefy Exaggerandum!" A wide-range beam shot from his wand, in case there was more than one someone. He motioned for the others to follow him, and they levitated themselves to the source of the noise. There they found-
-a possum. He mentally breathed a sigh of relief, then was immediately disgusted with himself for feeling so apprehensive. Caution was always important, but he should never feel fear. That was the first lesson his Master had taught him, and he would never forget it. To carry on the Lord's noble work, he would have to be tougher.
"Perhaps we should meet again, later," the third one suggested.
"No," the first one dismissed the notion quickly. "Don't be a dolt, night is when they look for us. During the day they're all busy. Except for that insufferable Moody. We must dispose of him as soon as possible. I don't like having an enemy with that eye of his. Tell your men to watch out for him- he can see through anything. But I'm getting off track here. Where was I? Oh, yes, the second part. Are we any closer to getting the 'sweet ones' on our side?"
"Almost there, sir, but it had been difficult to get to them. In a few weeks I may have an opportunity, but I cannot be certain about their loyalties until then."
The first one nodded. "Try for days instead of weeks." He turned to the third one. "And as for you, have the 'bunnies' joined yet either?"
He sadly shook his head. "No, sir. The 'bunnies' don't trust us, but they don't trust them either. I simply couldn't convince them."
The first one suddenly got very angry. "Well, that is 'simply' not acceptable," he said in a soft, dangerous voice. His eyes darkened, and his gaze was so fierce that lightning bolts could have been shooting out. "You are given a job, and you do it or die trying. Is that clear?"
"Yes, sir."
"Good. And that goes for you, too," he said, turning that frightening stare on the second. "You would both do well to remember that." If possible, his voice grew even softer. "I have to go now. I will get word to you about the next time we will meet, and I expect to see progress." Then he Apparated away.
The second and third figures were left, not staring at each other but thinking the same thing: what had happened to their comrade to make him so fanatic? Voldemort had often been harsh, but, knowing everything, he was always fair. With Malfoy, on the other hand, it was different.
The third one Apparated to do their leader's command, while the second one took a few moments to recover from the shock of the answer to his own question:
power.