Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of his friends or anything else cool about this story. It all belongs to JK Rowling. And I'm sure she has WAY better things written in her next and final book of the series which comes out in less than 48 hours!!!!!
Chapter Two – Negative
The next morning came too quickly for Hermione. She'd slept too fitfully to feel right, and now the day was upon her. Her first thought, of course, was what she would accomplish that day. Best ask the boss while he's around, she thought.
Turning to her right, she saw Harry wide awake, staring at her. She started, and nearly fell out of bed.
"Careful," Harry said non-chalantly.
"Bloody hell, Harry!" Hermione yelled. She hardly ever cursed, and she knew exactly who she sounded like.
So did Harry. He turned his head to stare at the ceiling and was quiet.
"I'm sorry," Hermione said, righting herself on her mattress, "I'm not sure I'll ever be completely free of his influence." She found this last statement oddly comforting, and smiled a little to herself. Ron would always be with her.
"No, I'm sorry. I just couldn't sleep anymore, my dreams are so awful. You looked rather peaceful and I was just wishing I could do the same when you woke." He turned his head to look at her again, "And you do sound like him sometimes."
Hermione's heart swelled for a moment. She'd always admired Ron's courage and loyalty. Though she did not approve of his language, she was glad to be like him in any small way. "Thank you," she told Harry.
"And that one sounded like Ginny," he remarked.
Hermione winced. She still hadn't recovered yet from her best friend's death. She felt in her heart that it was going to be easier now that she'd grieved a lover. She tried to put the two feelings together in order to empathize with Harry. Recalling that night, however, she knew she would never quite understand.
Madame Pomfrey broke the strained silence. "Good morning dears! Slept well, did we? Now, Miss Granger, you ought to be healed by this morning. Up you get and let's take a look."
Hermione's face turned bright red. "Madame Pomfrey, may I have my wand a minute first?" she asked.
"Why, whatever for child?"
Hermione swept her hand over the coverlet that covered her midsection and legs. Poppey's eyes grew round. "Oh my, yes dear, one moment."
The wand was brought, and she found to her delight that her wand hand was in perfect shape to grip it. Quickly, she cast her clothes back onto her person, and before she knew it she was standing with the rest of her belongings beside her. Her knee felt right as rain.
"Now then, off you go to your chambers, Miss Granger," Poppey said naturally.
Hermione did a double take. "Pardon me, my what?"
"Your chambers. You have a meeting with the Headmistress in an hour, so I suggest you be quick."
Hermione was confused, but complied quickly. As the heavy wooden doors shut behind her, Madame Pomfrey turned to face him.
"Well, Mr. Potter, your turn."
Harry breathed deeply, threw back the coverlet, and stood boxers and all before the matron. She performed a few charms to check his temperature and other vitals before declaring him cured. Harry's bags packed and his figure now properly dressed, she took a moment to inspect.
"Yes, yes, I'm sure you'll do just fine. Of course, it's all up to you. Now, to your chambers with you as well; the Headmistress is expecting you in an hour and a half."
Harry shook his head. He had wanted to leave the castle as soon as possible, but a meeting with the Headmistress couldn't be overlooked. He'd say his goodbyes to her before setting out.
He found the gargoyle just as it had been. However, today's password, spoken by his escort Professor Flitwick, was considerably different. "Raven's Writing Desk." The gargoyle swung aside and Professor Flitwick left Harry to climb the stairs on his own. Professor McGonagall walked out from behind the desk and met him in the middle of the spacious office with a warm embrace.
"Harry Potter, I'm so glad you're alright. I feared the worst when we found you on the tower, nearly frozen to death!" She pulled back and looked him in the eye, "Come, let's talk of happier things, shall we?" She motioned for him to sit in one of the overstuffed armchairs in front of her desk. Harry chose to stand. He noted that the office had undergone some changes of furniture and equipment. Yet the portraits of former headmasters remained, including Dumbledore's, which at the moment was dozing contentedly. He felt he recognized the slight smirk on the wizard's face, and had to look away.
"Professor," he began as he met her eyes, "I'm not sure why I've been assigned chambers, or why you asked to see me. But before anything is said, I want you to know that I intend to take a holiday from society that may remain permanent if I so choose. I chose to come to this meeting to congratulate you on your new post. You are by far the best choice. You have always been there for me, to protect me and even punish me when I deserved it. I don't know how many times I've been in this office with you at my side, and it only seems right that you fill that chair in the absence of our great friend. I wish you well, and I'm afraid this is goodbye."
Minerva looked shocked, and silence fell for a moment as she blinked. He thought he saw her eyes glisten, but her next words betrayed no hint of grief. "I understand that you feel very strongly about this, Mr. Potter, and I appreciate that you want some time away after everything you've been through."
"Thank you Professor. Good day." Harry turned to go.
"One more thing if you would Mr. Potter."
He paused at the door but did not turn around.
"As you consider your choice to return or not, I hope you will be pleased to know that you are my top choice to instruct Defense Against the Dark Arts here at Hogwarts. I believe now that all is… settled, as it were, you would bring the greatest experience and the greatest stability to this post that we have seen in over twenty years."
He thought he heard a catch in her voice as she ended her speech. Somehow, he wasn't surprised. He didn't know quite how he felt about this new information. His thoughts were concentrated on leaving everything behind. And, after thanking the Headmistress yet again, that's exactly what he did.
To his great annoyance, Hermione met Harry in the courtyard as he dragged his trunk and carried Hedwig's cage out of the castle.
"Where are you going, Harry Potter?"
"To see Hagrid." Her walked past her. She pursued.
"And what's all this?"
"What does it look like?"
"So then you refused McGonagall?"
Harry set his trunk down rather heavily and turned to face his friend. "How did you know?"
"I met with her not an hour ago. She offered me her old position teaching Transfiguration."
"And what did you say?"
"Well, I accepted of course! They don't offer these posts to just anyone, you know!"
"Yes, well, you'll be happy to know that I didn't refuse. I simply delayed my answer."
She looked at the ground and half whispered, "So then you're really going away?"
"Wild hippogriffs couldn't stop me," he stated, turning and picking up his trunk once again.
She looked up and called after him, "What about a friend?"
Harry continued walking.
Hagrid's hut was as cramped but homey as ever. Fang practically swallowed Harry's glasses as the huge dog licked his master's good friend. Hagrid himself was jolly at first, but the subject quickly turned to Harry's luggage and the news came forward.
"Harry," Hagrid said, looking at him in the same friendly and confiding way he had during their first trip to Diagon Alley, "I can't tell ye how proud I am to know that the Professor is considerin' givin' you a class. Trust me when I say it's the best feelin' in the world ter teach. Ye sure ye can't be persuaded to stay? Er at least take a shorter holiday?"
"I'm sorry, Hagrid, I've made up my mind. I will write, though, I promise. I think Hedwig will like the outdoors."
"The outdoors? Where are ye plannin' on spendin' yer holiday, Harry?"
"I thought the forest would do, I've always wanted to explore it. And I've always found the lake very calming."
"Ach, Harry, that it is. But I wouldn't go this time of year. Too cold. Ye best stay with us here at Hogwarts until the Spring thaw comes."
Harry felt compassion for the half-giant with a big heart. "I know this might be hard for you to accept, but I can survive on my own. You and Professor Sprout taught me well enough. I want to experience the winter, and watch the world wake up in the spring. I'm craving some perspective, and it can't wait."
Not surprisingly, Hagrid sniffled a little and had to blow his nose before he could reply. "Well, Harry, ye can use one o' my knapsacks, and I'll keep yer trunk here for safe keepin'. But promise me ye'll come back for it eventually."
"I promise."
Harry stood and the two began stuffing clothing, food, and blankets into a large sack. Hagrid reminded Harry one by one of all the dangers held in the forest. The traveler tried his best to catalog them. Finally, he threw the knapsack over his back, and then carefully lifted Hedwig out of her cage. She nuzzled him gently on the ear as she perched on his right shoulder.
"Now Harry, remember everything I told ye first year: those woods are a dangerous place! Don't go wanderin' without thinkin'," Hagrid warned. He then turned to the bird "Alright, missy, ye take good care of the lad. Ye looked the smartest of the bunch that day that I picked ye for young Harry. Don't ye let me down."
With that and the biggest bear-hug Harry had ever received, he was out the door and down the path into the woods. He walked for some time, past the Thestrals and other creatures that Hagrid kept for the school. He walked through the clearing where he'd found the dead and bleeding unicorn first year. He passed the big tree that once anchored Hagrid's half brother. He gave the den of the Giant Spiders a wide birth. Finally, he came to a pretty little lagoon whose tress let in an extraordinary amount of light. Water rushed in and out of the lagoon, giving its banks a quiet but calming sound.
Harry sat down on the cold snow and opened the sack. Like any good wizard's bag, it was enchanted to hold much more than its size allowed. So much more, in fact, that Harry had a hard time finding what he wanted. In a last ditch effort, he pulled out his wand.
"Accio sandwich!"
A ham and cheese sandwich zoomed up from the contents of the bag, nearly hitting him in the face. He sat and chewed on it for awhile, and thought only of Ginny. What would he do now that Voldemort was dead, and she was gone? His life's purpose was practically eliminated. If he chose not to teach, what would become of him?
The sun began to set and Harry dug through the knapsack again. This time he easily found the tarp and blankets that Hagrid had insisted on loaning him. The tarp popped up nearly instantly to become a four sided pavilion style tent, more than big enough for Harry, and another blanket was actually a rug charmed to look smaller. Harry dragged the knapsack inside and shut the flaps. Sure enough, a warming spell had been cast on the tent, and Harry felt none of the piercing cold of the wind that he had just two nights ago.
"He still doesn't trust me when I say I can take care of myself, Hedwig," he said as the owl found a perch on one of the wooden rods holding up the roof of the tent. She hooted in agreement as Harry spread the over the icy ground, then took the rest of the blankets and stacked them out for a bed. Before the sun had set completely, the water's sound lulled Harry into the most contented sleep he'd had in weeks.
Author's Note: Okay, we're plodding. I apologize, but I really feel like this chapter was necessary. Trust me, it'll all come together. The plot will pick up and run in the next chapter! Also, please don't think I have any knowledge of what's going to happen in the next book. If I have my way, all of this will be AU when it comes out. I'm sorry about any confusion that may have gone on with the first chapter. Keep your questions; they will all be answered eventually in the story! Thanks for your support! That said, please R&R!