Now, if you have, per say, happened to stumble across my fanfiction "This Is How the Story Ends", then you will be delighted to know that this…is its sequel. After much much time I have finally felt prepared enough to write this fanfic, although I owe a lot of it to my good friend SatoriSama. She inspires me, as I am sure she will admit I inspire her. ::wink wink:: There is something I must point out, though. Satori wanted me to mention that the name of the Zephyr broom, as well as its creators, were designed by her. She threatened to sue me if I didn't mention that. So now it has been mentioned, and as I'm in the process of making sure I'm not sued, I should also add that MAJORITY of the characters and places in this story are not owned by me. They were created and owned by the wonderful Ms. JK Rowling herself and it is an honor for me to have the privilege, nay, the pleasure to mold her world in my own special way.
Terribly sorry to take up so much of your time. You may skip this last sentence in order to begin "A New Beginning" if you wish. My name is Indigo Mantoya, you killed my father, prepare to die.
The familiar busyness of Diagon Alley enveloped Harry as he stepped into the hectic street. It swirled around him in a tantalizing flurry of scents and sounds triggering feelings and memories long forgotten. Harry took a deep cleansing breath and looked down at his daughter Lily, standing beside him in front of the great arch that marked their departure from the Leaky Cauldron and their entrance into Diagon Alley. Harry managed a brave smile at his young daughter and asked, "Are you sure you don't want me to come along with you?"
Lily sighed. "Daddy, I'm twelve years old! I can certainly go find my school things without you tagging along. Honestly, what would everyone think?" And with a flick of her long blonde hair, Lily headed off down the street, dodging the elder witches and wizards and waving to acquainted schoolmates.
"Lily!" Harry called after her. "Don't forget to meet me at Florean Fortescue's in three hours!"
Lily waved a responding hand over her shoulder at her father, still heading toward her friends. Harry shook his head, a wry smile on his face. Shortly, however, he realized he was still standing in the middle of the street. Quickly Harry made his way over to the side and sidled his along, glancing here and there at the many stores along the road. He had precisely three hours to kill before he had to meet Lily at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor and he was determined to do a little window-shopping beforehand.
It felt good to be back in this familiar childhood scene. Although the faces may have changed, as well as some of the shops, the atmosphere was still the same. Harry hadn't been here since…well, since shortly before Luna's death. But he didn't want to think about that now. This was neither the time nor the place.
Resolutely Harry set off to find Lily's birthday present. Lily's birthday was quickly approaching and Harry always took advantage of this time to dot upon his single daughter. His heart sunk sadly as he remembered that this would be Lily's thirteenth birthday. His little girl was turning into a teenager.
Strolling along, Harry glanced inside of Quality Quidditch Supplies and with a pang thought of his school years filled with Quidditch playing. Those days seemed as far away as the memory of Diagon Alley. This would be Lily's first year at a shot on the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Hesitantly Harry stopped and gazed cautiously through the store window. With a decisive burst of courage he opened the shop door. A silver bell tinkled as he entered the large colorful room of Quality Quidditch Supplies, lined with large oak display cases and illuminated in a soft yellow light.
" 'Ello there," said a friendly voice from behind the counter. "What would you be alookin' for today my good man?"
Harry looked and saw a heartily built man dressed in emerald green robes the color of Lily's eyes. The color of his own eyes. The man was beaming, flashing pearly white teeth.
"Ah, yes," Harry said uncertainly. "I am looking for…" His voice sauntered off as he gazed around the shop. "Well, my daughter you see…" He tried to begin again. The man's smile widened.
"Is the lil' lass aimin' to play Quidditch is she? Aye, you've come to the right place I'd say. Tis it brooms you're alookin' for is it?"
Harry nodded, glancing over at a well-lit display against the far wall. The man stepped out from behind the counter and picked up one of the display brooms.
"Now, are you alookin' for sometin for a beginner. 'Cas thisin here is a right nice broom for that. Nice and gentle," he said, fondling the broom expertly.
"No, no," Harry said considerately. "Lily's been able to ride a broom since the day she was born. I want…something very special."
The man's eyes wrinkled into a smile. He looked thoughtful for a moment then tapped his nose and winked at Harry.
"An' would money be a problem, sir?" he said with a glint in his eye.
Harry shook his head, fingering his pocket, which contained a large amount of gleaming galleons.
The man nodded and pointed towards the front display window. Harry turned and saw several young boys outside with their noses pressed against the glass, staring at the broom that lay on the other side. The glittering gold plaque hanging above the broom read:
"The Wingfeather Bros &Co. Exceptionally fine makers of high quality brooms since before you were born, present the ZEPHYR".
The salesman strode over to that display and carefully picked up the Zephyr in his big hands. He held it out to Harry with a hint of pride on his face. Harry cautiously reached his hand toward the broom, his eyes taking in the perfectly trimmed tail and polished handle. He stroked it, feeling the smoothness beneath his fingertips. The broom fairly hummed with magic and seemed to glow with its own energy. Harry couldn't imagine getting Lily any other broom.
"I'll take it," Harry said, looking up at the salesman. The man's smile widened as he bowed curtly and carefully whisked the broom behind the counter.
"Now would you be alikin' to take this 'ere Zephyr with you now or should I be ashippin' it to you?" the salesman asked as he placed the Zephyr in a long gold box lined with tissue paper. Harry pictured carrying the broom around him all day, only to be seen by Lily and instantly recognized.
"No," Harry said. "I'll have it delivered."
He proceeded to fill out the necessary paperwork to have Gringotts send the required galleons to pay and to have the broom shipped the Hogwarts on Lily's birthday. He smiled slightly as he thought of the pride she would have opening it in front of her classmates much like he had when he was young. Then with a spring in his step and a gleam in his eye, Harry stepped out of Quality Quidditch Supplies.
Harry continued on his way along the side of the street, whistling to himself. He stopped momentarily at the Apothecary to pick up some extra potions supplies for an experiment he was trying at home. As he stepped out of the Apothecary, Harry caught a glance of Lily's blonde hair disappearing inside of Madam Malkins Robes for All Occasions. Deciding he would catch up with Lily to see how her shopping had gone so far, Harry proceeded to enter Madam Malkins after her.
The front of the shop consisted of a seating area where customers could wait for their turn for measurements. Business was slow that afternoon, so Lily had already progressed to the back room of the shop. Madam Malkin's assistant buzzed around Lily in a flurry of wand and measuring tape. Madam Malkin herself was busy on a tall red haired boy at the other end of the back room. Lily looked up from the assistant and was startled to see her dad standing in the shop's foyer. She waved and Harry motioned that he was going to sit and wait for her. He looked around the sparse seating area, only to notice a bushy haired witch sitting in the corner, her nose in a book. Harry seated himself in the chair nearest the door.
Leaning back in his chair, Harry took a double take of the witch sitting in the corner. His insides froze and went numb as he realized who she was.
"Her—Hermione?" he gasped.
The witch looked up in surprise. Her face was pale and thin and turned even paler as she realized who had just spoken her name.
"Harry," she breathed.
Harry could feel himself trembling slightly. He had not seen nor heard from Hermione Weasley since shortly after Luna's death eleven years ago. Seeing her ripped open scars not visible on flesh.
They both stared, speechless, at one another for a long time. Perhaps it was only a minute, or a second. To Harry it felt like eternity. He caught himself, and turned away with a nervous cough.
"Mum? I'm done," came a distantly familiar voice. The tall red haired youth stood at the entrance from the back room. His face was young and his nature strange, and although his features were a little softer, his nose a little smaller, Harry could have sworn it was Ron himself standing before him.
The boy glanced nervously at Harry, obviously uncomfortable due to Harry's open stare. Hermione took a deep breath and stood up, taking her son's hand.
"Harry, this is…Ronny. My son," she said, her voice faint and shaky.
Harry stood and held out his hand, a sad look on his face. Ronny timidly shook Harry's hand, then shot a questioning look at his mum.
"You're mother and I are old schoolmates," Harry replied kindly. Ronny nodded, trying to look as if he understood. Harry smiled softly and looked back up at Hermione.
"That is my daughter, in the back," he said, gesturing. Hermione peering into the back room and her eyes lit up.
"Lily?" she whispered and Harry nodded. "She looks…she looks…like…" Hermione's voice dwindled off.
"Yeah, I know," Harry said. There was another moment of awkward silence. "So," Harry said abruptly. "How's…it been?"
Hermione looked out the window, then turned to manage a brave smile at her son. "Good," she said. "Things have been good."
"Hullo there," came a voice from behind Harry's shoulder. There Lily stood, a contented little twelve-year-old smile on her face, looking at Hermione and Ron. "Who is this, Daddy?" she asked, still looking at the Weasleys.
Harry made introductions, explaining that Lily was about to begin her second year at Hogwarts.
"This is Ronny's first year," Hermione said, patting Ronny on the shoulder. Lily's eyes sparkled.
"You absolutely love it!" she cried excitedly, looking earnestly at Ronny. "There is nothing to be afraid of at all! Have you been inside of Hogwarts yet?"
Ronny shook his head, looking shy.
"Oh it's the grandest place ever!" Lily said. "You'll make so many friends."
Harry glanced at Hermione over his daughter's head. She was looking at him too. They both smiled. Friends indeed.
"Daddy, I still have more things to collect, and time's a ticking," Lily said, looking up at her dad.
"Oh, yes. Of course."
As Lily whisked out of the room, Harry found he missed her presence. She was like a safe haven that came between him, his past, and awkward silences. Her smile and chatter could light up a room and become an obstacle to dread.
"Well, we had better be off as well," Hermione said. She shepherded Ronny out the door, giving Harry one last lingering look, before she disappeared out of Madam Malkins and into the flurry that was Diagon Alley.
Harry sighed and sagged down in the closest chair. He hadn't been prepared for that. Diagon Alley and Quidditch themselves were bringing back painful memories, but seeing Hermione seemed to top them both. He tried hard to remember when the last time he had seen Hermione was. It had been shortly after he had been released from St Mungos after Draco Malfoy's death. Was it at Ginny and Neville's wedding? He couldn't remember seeing her there. No, it was down in the Department of Mysteries at the Ministry of Magic. She had been collecting Ron's possessions from his office. He remembered the painful look she had on her face, as though all her world had been ripped away. She had just begun to show in her pregnancy and Harry recalled thinking that her baby would grow up just like Lily; with only one parent.
And that was the last he had seen of her in eleven years.
He had never heard about the birth of her baby. He had obviously assumed it had been born, but its gender to him had been a mystery. But she had had a boy, whom she called Ronny after his father. A father that he would never see. Yet he was the spitting image of Harry's dear friend Ron himself. It had almost been like seeing Ron raised from death.
Harry took a deep breath to calm his quivering nerves before standing up and leaving Madam Malkins Robes For All Occasions.
Less then two hours later Harry was seated in front of Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor.
"One Vanilla Fudge Ripple two scoops for you, and a triple scoop Praline Pecan for me," Lily said, handing her father his cone and sitting opposite him at their small table. Harry smiled graciously and took an absent lick of his cone. He choked suddenly and looked in surprise at his Vanilla Fudge Ripple. Lily sighed. "The ice cream just hasn't tasted the same since Florean's death," she said sadly.
"Really?" Harry asked. He hadn't known that Florean had passed away. He remembered days sitting at this very parlor, listening to Florean's advice on Medieval witch burnings. Harry was silent for a moment as he pondered this loss.
"So," Lily said, breaking Harry's train of thought. "Have you gotten my birthday present yet?"
Harry grinned and shook a finger at Lily. "You would like to be knowing, now wouldn't you? Well, I can't tell you," he said, a smile teasing the corners of his mouth.
"Come on! Just a hint!" Lily begged.
"Nope, there's now ay you're getting anything out of me."
The two stared defiantly at each other from across the table. Finally Lily looked away with a giggle.
"Did you get everything that you needed?" Harry asked after taking another hesitant lick from his cone. Lily nodded, inclining her head to indicate the large bags under her chair.
"I saw a great deal of my good school friends," she said, swinging her feet underneath the table. "I'm really excited for the school year to begin again. I feel comforted to know that I'll know much more about Hogwarts then I did before. I remember being really scared walking in…" her voice trailed off as she looking into space, thinking. She looked back up abruptly. "That's why I told that red head boy not to be afraid. I know what it's like."
Harry almost choked on his ice cream again. Lily looked at him oddly.
"Are you…ok Daddy?" she asked. "You've been acting strange all day."
"Yes, yes," Harry assured her. "I'm just…tired. Have had a hard few days at the Ministry, that's all."
Lily gave him one last worried look before returning to her own ice cream.
"Does it…have anything to do with that lady at Madam Malkins?" she asked quietly.
Harry didn't look up from his ice cream.
"What makes you say that, sweetie?"
"Well, you…were kind of staring at her strangely. I've never seen you like that. It was almost like…you had seen a ghost." Lily barely said the last word.
Harry marveled silently as he had often done before over the honesty of children.
"Some day I might tell you about her," he said, reaching over and patting Lily on the hand. "But today, it's too hard."
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