CHAPTER 2: Harry's Dementor

With everyone rushing past him to get inside the Great Hall, Harry Potter stood still at the entrance, intently watching the dazzling interior of perhaps one of the biggest chambers at Hogwarts. Four long tables for the four houses were stretched throughout and rapidly were being filled up with students eager for the Welcoming Feast. The chill of the September was being suppressed by warm fires that were lighted up at both sides of the vast hall. The enchanted sky above Harry appeared wondrous; perfectly fastened against the high ceiling, it was full of stars that gleamed like fireflies trying their best not to let the colour of the night fully overcome. Nothing seemed to have changed. Yet, everything had changed; at least for Harry it had.

For first time in his life, Harry was not so glad to be back at Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry even though living with Dursleys for the rest of the summer holidays had been more than hell this time around. His uncle Vernon had been beefy and nasty as ever, Aunt Petunia still hated him for being her 'freaky' sister's son, Dudley was as piggy, fat and mean like always and… Ginny Weasley was still dead.

Two dreary and stretched out months had passed and Harry's pain was still as fresh. Of course, he had accepted Ginny's death a long time ago, but the hurt never left. Instead it grew inside of him, little by little endeavouring to engulf all the happiness that had ever existed inside of him. And if all that happiness were to disappear, then there would no point in living any further and he would surely die.

Harry slowly walked towards the Gryffindor table, trying hard to be as inconspicuous as possible and sat down next to a bunch of second years whom he had never spoken with. It was only minute or two later when he was joined by one of his closest friends, Hermione Granger who hesitated but a single second to talk to him.

"Hello…" Her voice sounded solemn and dejected.

Harry gave her small nod to acknowledge her greeting while easily noticing that her hands were slightly shaking; a signal that he had observed over the years about his best friend when she was feeling fairly apprehensive.

"You all right, Harry?" Hermione asked him after some time.

"I'm fine," lied Harry, without looking up at his best friend. He still had a very hard time facing people and that included Ron and Hermione. It was due to the fact that Harry didn't want anyone to notice the obvious and agonizing twinge in his eyes. They sat in complete silence throughout the sorting of the first-years, both of them avoiding each others' eyes and feeling as uncomfortable as if they just has met for the first time.

It was a while later when Hermione cleared her throat. "Harry…" she seemed cautious. "I have been meaning to talk to you about something… " But she didn't have the chance to say what was on her mind, because at that moment, Professor McGonagall's voice echoed through the Great Hall. "Attention please. Professor Dumbledore would like to have a few words with all of you."

Harry looked up at the end of the Great Hall towards the centre of the High Table where their headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, was standing up in order to deliver perhaps a welcoming speech. It didn't take Harry long to notice that there was no usual gleam on Professor Dumbledore's moonlit face, but it was replaced by a hint of melancholy.

"I graciously welcome everyone to another year at Hogwarts." Then Professor Dumbledore paused for a long time as if searching for the right words to say. "I believe all of you have heard of the terrible ordeal that has befallen upon the Weasley family. Their youngest daughter, Miss Ginevra Weasley who had been with us at Hogwarts for the past four years, is regrettably no longer with us." Tears were forming in Dumbledore's eyes. Harry had never seen anyone as strong and powerful as this Hogwart's headmaster weep in front of the whole school.

This was no new news to anyone. Ginny's loss had been mentioned for several days in the Daily Prophet. There were a few sobs here and there in the Great Hall. Indeed, the whole school seemed to be mourning over Ginny's death at that moment. Even the Slytherin table seemed unusually quiet, as if showing some sketch of respect. It almost seemed awkward, Draco Malfoy, and his sidekicks Crabbe and Goyle, not smirking at this.

Professor Dumbledore continued, "I shall not hide from you the terrible truth, as now lies and deceit in this world will not protect anyone of you. Ginny Weasley, merely did not just die a natural death. She was killed by Lord Voldemort himself!"

There was a sudden uproar of shocked and astonished gasps from everywhere, then an instant of murmurs and frightened whispers.

"Ginny Weasley is now another countless victim of Lord Voldemort." Dumbledore's voice boomed in the hearts of everyone. "I have been deeply saddened by this, and I hope you realise the seriousness of this horrifying situation. Voldemort's power is rising by great heights, and anyone in this hall can be easily considered one of his preys. I, therefore, advise all of you to be on your best watch as I fear that a terrible war might be brewing upon us. A war that will seize hold and snatch away the people that we love the most. A war that will cause destruction and havoc throughout and it will not show mercy upon any one of us.

"For that reason and that reason alone, we must be prepared, willing and ready to defeat and conquer any force that will try to cause us any harm. And believe me that I will be personally responsible for all the preparation and training that will hopefully arm all the students against this calamity. As you will see in the near future, that certain enforcements will soon be implemented at Hogwarts. This will ensure the safety of all, as well each and every one of you will be taught some powerful and advanced ways to defend oneself." He stopped for a second. "For the time being, there will be no Defence Against the Dark Arts classes. We will begin to conduct the lessons as soon as we have finished with the implementation. That will be all. Now, my students, enjoy the feast."

Exactly at that moment, tables were being filled with luscious and mouth-watering food. Harry, who was incredibly hungry, had his appetite taken away when he had heard Professor Dumbledore's speech.

Harry was almost frightened to face his best friend, Ronald Weasley who was now sitting next to Hermione and this was very strange because Ron always chose to sit beside Harry in the past. What's more, Harry felt sure that Ron was doing his best not to look him in the eye and it seemed apparent at least on Harry's part that his friend wanted to keep his distance from his sister's murderer. And once again, but after a very long time, Harry felt completely alone in his world. After all, it was because of him that many failed to exist in this life. Two years back, Cedric Diggory, a Hufflepuff, had also been murdered by Lord Voldemort. And that too, had been because of Harry. And if he hadn't tried to be such a hero, he wouldn't have been the main cause of Sirius Black's death, his Godfather and the only living person who loved Harry as much as his parents. Now who would be insane enough to trust Harry Potter anymore?

When the feast finished, all students headed towards their respective house dormitories. Only a few of them met up with Harry namely Neville Longbottom, Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnigan, Colin Creevy and Parvati Patil, all Gryffindors. Ron still hadn't spoken with him since they had arrived at Hogwarts. Harry miserably headed towards the Gryffindor Tower, walking with no one in particular, and feeling his heart turning into solid lead.

Upon reaching the Gryffindor common room, Harry headed straight for his dormitory. Other Gryffindors usually took this time to meet their old friends and chat about what happened to them over the summer. This worked as a quite an advantage for Harry, as he wanted to be left completely alone. His belongings had already arrived and Harry quickly changed into his sleeping things, took off his glasses and quietly stole into bed.

This was, without any doubt, the hardest part of the day for Harry. It was extremely difficult for him to fall asleep, without recalling the scenes of Ginny's murder in his mind. Harry had tried his best not to think about any of it, but it seemed ridiculously impossible. And to make matters even worse, he still had horrible and confusing nightmares about Voldemort, Ginny and his parents. They were by no means, pleasant dreams and it was like Harry had to endure some more million of deaths. And sometimes, he would also dream about the future and how the world would turn against him and consider him one of Lord Voldemort's allies. He would then be abandoned, left in confines of shadows and darkness that will lusciously devour his wretched soul…

Harry thoughtlessly wondered if he would ever meet Ginny in heaven. Chances didn't look too good, as he would probably end up being fuel for the fires of hell. Thinking about Ginny again, flooded all recollections of their past in his mind. Oh, how he missed her. Even though she and Harry were never truly became good friends, he could feel, somewhat an emptiness and void in him. She was a remarkable and enchanting person, she made Harry fall in love with her even after she died. Why did he have to kill her?

And now Ron was never going to speak with him ever again. Harry couldn't blame his best friend, not for a moment. By murdering Ginny, he also killed the hearts hopes of many others, especially her family.

Salty tears were forming in his grief-stricken eyes. This whole incident felt too much of a heavy load for Harry to bear in his heart. It hurt him deeply, a pain he by no means had endured in his troubled past. Harry never had cared for anyone as much as he did for the Weasleys. They were always good to him, they showed Harry that love still existed in this foul world. He had been on a haunted journey to find the hidden thread of hope inside of him and the Weasleys were the ones who helped him discover that it still existed in him.

And how did Harry repay them? By killing off the youngest Weasley. By murdering Arthur and Molly Weasleys only daughter, and Ron's favourite sibling even though he'd never admit it, not even after her death. Yes, that is how Harry managed to settle the score with them, and he was miserably beginning to realize, moment by moment, that hope was deserting him again, and whatever speck of bliss he had constructed in all this time was slowly fading away.

Twisted emotions were bombarding his head from all directions, and Harry wasn't sure it he could take it anymore! Why was all of this happening…? Why did Ginny have to die…? Why was he feeling all so alone in this world…? Too much was attacking his mind at the same time and his heart was plunging deep into the shadows by the second. It was as if Harry's brain was spinning and spinning and wouldn't stop till he died of confusion and frustration.

Harry Potter did not need a dementor to suck all traces of bliss inside him and to finish him off. His very own guilt and shame would just be enough to perform the task.

Hope all the readers enjoyed it. That's really the point of writing isn't it...