Lest We Forget: Chapter 1, or the Beginning to a New Story

A/N: I want to upload a new chapter at least once a week but I've been busy with school lately and I won't be home during June but hopefully I'll still have periodic access to the Internet.

"Harry, it's time to wake up. Come on, Harry, there's no need to act asleep. Oh, whatever, you don't seem to be awake yet. I'll be back in a bit." Ginny had been trying to wake up Harry to no avail. It seemed he was as stubborn in sleep as he was in waking. Ginny walked out of Dumbledore's Office grumbling about how easily he can sleep and completely missed Harry's quiet chuckles.

Harry had been recovering from his previous stupor and decided to play a little prank on Ginny. It wasn't all too creative but it gave him a good laugh to listen to her grumbling and see the look on her face. It was the first time he had laughed in what felt like forever, and the sound felt unfamiliar but pleasant to him, like a long forgotten best friend that crept up and surprised him after years of being away. After he calmed down a little, Harry set out to find some of his friends and provide help. He also wanted to pretend he was still in his stupor and surprise his friends when they weren't looking or paying attention. Indeed, Harry was feeling very mischievous.

As Harry was wandering around looking for a friend to cheer up, he saw Neville and Luna comforting each other in what they thought was a secluded alcove. Harry cast a disillusionment charm and a silencing charm on himself before coming up behind them and catching them unawares by putting his face in between theirs before they came in for another kiss. Neville was surprised when he met resistance halfway to Luna and fell backward while Luna looked straight at Harry and said, "Come out, whoever you are. I know you're there."

Harry released the charms he had put on himself. He was laughing so hard there were tears in his eyes. Even Luna was bewildered at the sight before her, as she thought Harry was surrounded by Wrackspurts still. She must have been too caught up in her embraces with Neville to realize this, though. She frowned. "Harry, are you okay? I thought that you were still surrounded by Wrackspurts. Did something happen to make them go away? OR are you even Harry at all?"

Luna's comment made Harry laugh even harder, and he had to clutch his sides. "One… moment…. Luna…. Let me….. calm down…. first." Finally, Harry managed to stop laughing long enough to sit down and take deep breaths. He beckoned Neville and Luna over to him and explained what had happened to bring him out of his dream state. He then proceeded to explain his plans to prank his friends.

"Congratulations on finally finding someone to love, Harry. I knew it was going to be Ginny, but I couldn't tell you as you had to accept the bond that has formed between you on your own. Also, while I don't entirely approve of your plans to prank your friends, I agree that they may just need the mirth," Luna said.

"Thank you Luna. I see you've also found yourself a lover. Neville, if you hurt this wonderful person here…." Harry let his statement trail off into the distance. When Luna looked longingly at Neville, Harry took the opportunity to wink at Neville, who looked at Harry in fear. "Well, anyways, I have to go and cheer up more of my friends. I'll see you two tonight. Or maybe I won't." Harry winked at Neville again and walked away.

"Neville, what did he mean he might not see us tonight?" Luna asked, quite innocently. Neville blushed. This was going to be an interesting conversation.

Harry continued his wandering and noticed that Ron and Hermione were down at the lake. He didn't want to play the same prank twice, so instead he cast a spell on himself that changed his appearance so that he looked lost and confused. As soon as Harry would say the names of his closest and first friends the spell would dissipate. Harry wandered in a seemingly confused and random pattern down to the lakeside and stared in a convincingly emotionless manner out across the lake.

Hermione and Ron were surprised to see their friend so far away from his usual post of staring into space in Dumbledore's office. It was Hermione that decided to confront Harry and ask why he was so distant. "Hey Harry. It's nice to see that you're up and about. Are you feeling any better?" Harry just stared at her blankly.

"And who are you exactly? And where am I?" Harry was roaring with laughter on the inside. He liked this new feeling of joy. He couldn't imagine what it would be like to be without it after having it.

"Harry, it's me, your friend, Hermione. Don't you remember me?"

"That can't be true. I don't have any friends. They're all dead. I killed them. It's my fault. By the way, hey Ron. How's it with you?"

Hermione was devastated that Harry had gotten so distant. She was nearly in tears. She couldn't believe that he couldn't remember her. Then the second part of what he said registered in her mind. "Harry James Potter, you git, get over here so I can give you an injury that you WON'T remember!"

Suddenly, Harry's laughter turned from happy to nervous and then to downright scared. Harry started running as fast as his legs could allow, which wasn't very fast as he hadn't exactly moved in a week. He tripped and fell, cursing his bad luck. I wish I had saved some of that Felix from last year, he thought, it would have definitely helped in this predicament. Hermione jumped on top of him before he could think any more and a look of extreme terror came over him. "Hermione, I'm sorry, I was trying to get you to cheer up and I was expecting you to laugh or just look shocked," Harry spluttered, trying to defend himself, "I had that reaction from Neville and Luna already.

To Harry's immeadiate surprise, Hermione started to hug him instead of the blows he had expected. Harry was stiff in her embrace and was still suspicious that she was going to try to injure him. Suddenly, he got what he wished for, and was rewarded with a hard slap to the cheek. "That's for leaving us like that. You better not do anything like that ever again!" He got another slap on the other side of his face. "And that's for dying on us!"

Now that all of Hermione's pent-up rage had diminished, she was laughing and feeling like her old self again. Ron just looked bewildered and didn't quite know how to react at the situation. Harry's eyes were watering in pain, so Ron acted upon it, saying, "Harry, you died and came back and now you're crying because Hermione slapped you? That's pretty weak, mate."

Harry got up and punched him in the shoulder, then offered the same explanation to Ron and Hermione that he gave to Neville and Luna. They walked back into the castle and headed to the Great Hall to get serious again and deal with the dead. Harry smiled to himself. Finally, he thought, I get to start a new and better chapter of my life. Or was what I've been through so far one story and this new life another?

End Note: In the next chapter, I plan to initiate a flashback into Harry's slumber from the previous night to explain his sudden jovial mood. I would very much like ideas on how to continue the story, as I plan on it being long and exciting but my imagination is a bit lacking. At least, that's what I've always felt. :P Thanks for the support for the story (flamingharp) and I plan on continuing this as long as I can.

-N