Thanks, a looooooot to everyone who is following this story. My gratitude to all you guys that favourited it. My special thanks to everyone who's been reviewing all my chapters especially Vladimir Mithrander, laravv, mizzrazz72, LeviJaegerEren, geekymom, FanWarrior16, T-TrainOrTurkeyT, FallenAngells, Gurgaraneth and SlytherdorAnna.
"Serioulsy I wasn't expecting your response to be so wonderful. Thank you sooooooooooooooo much for supporting me and loving me. It really really really means a lot to me and keeps me going on my darkest days."
Harry stood in the atrium with Fred and George on either side of him. He was staring up at the Fountain of Magical Brethren and wondering what he was going to do now. And for the umpteenth time Harry asked him himself the question, how could Voldemort leave him like this? Harry felt one of the twins nudge his shoulder gently and he walked ahead. The clicking of the heels in the otherwise silent atrium informed Harry of Bellatrix's arrival. He looked up and found her hurrying towards him. It was apparent from her condition that the news had reached her. She was dressed in plain black robes and her hair were tied back. She looked simple and as grief stricken as Harry felt inside. She knelt in front of him, took his hand and kissed it. Harry raised her up to her feet and embraced her.
He wanted to cry just as openly as Bella was crying but his heart refused to give up on the tears. Harry rubbed her back gently. He had never imagined that he would ever comfort Bella like he was doing right now but here he was,
"Bella, we have to hold ourselves together. We can't fall apart now when there is so much to be done."
Bella drew back, cupped his face and kissed his cheek,
"I know. I've been trying since the twins informed me."
Harry turned to look at the twins and they raised their hands defensively,
"We had to inform everyone."
It was a good thing that they had because Harry was certain that he wouldn't have been able to. But there were going to be questions and Harry wasn't sure if he was ready to face them. Harry realized that he had drifted away when he was pulled back by a hand squeezing his shoulder,
"Sirius and Luna are on their way here."
Harry moved his hand over his face and looked at Bella with concern,
"Are you alright?"
She hitched up a watery smile and Harry knew that she would be fine,
"You'll have to conduct a press conference and formally announce yourself as minister…"
Harry raised his hand and halted her,
"What? No…. I'm not…. I don't want to be minister. I don't think I can handle it."
Bellatrix's smile widened,
"Everyone is eager to work under you."
Harry closed his eyes,
"But…..."
He closed his eyes. He hadn't expected this. He had thought about leading from the side-lines but this wasn't right. He wasn't capable or experienced. Harry felt a hand on each of his shoulder,
"No buts. You have to agree to this, Harry. Please."
Harry was feeling overwhelmed again and he struggled to keep his breathing under control. This was difficult enough for him already and he was certain that he was going to shatter if he bore any more of the burden. He was just lost in these thoughts when he found himself held in a tight embrace,
"Harry…."
It was Sirius's voice. Sirius's arms. Harry embraced him back,
"I'm fine. I'm alright. Sirius, Relax."
Sirius refused to let go of him. Harry knew that if anyone could sense his pain, it was Sirius. And he knew that he could detect his lies too,
"Please, Sirius. I need your support."
Sirius pulled back and Harry saw the tears shimmering in his eyes. How he yearned to cry. Maybe crying would lessen the weight that was on his chest. But his heart wanted to hold onto the pain. Sirius gently patted him on cheek,
"I'm always here for you."
Bellatrix cleared her throat,
"Cousin dear, don't you think that he is the perfect candidate for Minister of Magic?"
Harry looked at Sirius and met his gaze. Then he shifted his gaze to Bella and the twins. There was no mistaking the hope that he saw in their eyes. The joy this little decision would bring them. He finally spoke,
"I want to know everyone's opinion before making this decision. How soon can all the death eaters be here?"
Bellatrix smiled warmly,
"They're already here."
Harry nodded his head,
"Okay, gather them then. We need to discuss a lot of matters"
Bellatrix nodded and walked away. Harry found Luna standing at a distance and staring at him. The pain was evident on her face. Harry knew that she had foreseen it. She had said that he would get hurt and he had. She approached him and hugged him tight,
"I wish I could have warned you."
Harry shook his head,
"I couldn't have done anything even if you had."
She rubbed soothing circles on his back,
"Harry, I can see the pain in your eyes. And everyone else can see it too. This loss has and will continue to impact every part of your being. Not only will you not be able to think straight, but all your activities will run on automation. To call it "walking in a daze," doesn't approach the dark clouds that are amassing inside your skull."
Harry gulped. How had Luna been able to sum up all his suffering in words like that? This was exactly what his future was going to be. Exactly what his life was going to be from now on,
"We're here for you, Harry. You're not alone. You have to fight it, just like you've fought till now. I know that you're going to survive. Joy is out of sight but it's not out of reach. You just have to step ahead and grab it."
Harry kept his eyes closed. Luna was right. Luna was always right. He wasn't alone and he knew that he was going to survive. Nothing had changed. He had lived for others before. He would live for them again. The clamour of several footsteps informed him that the death eaters were assembling. Harry pulled away from Luna and tucked a stray lock of her hair behind her ear,
"I'm going to be fine. Don't worry."
Once the death eaters had assembled and there was pin drop silence, Harry stepped ahead and spoke,
"You're all aware of…what happened this morning. In his absence, as his spouse, the responsibility of managing Hogwarts and The ministry has fallen on my shoulders. I don't know the first thing about management or how government affairs are run…."
He couldn't finish speaking because the Atrium reverberated with the chants,
"Harry Potter, Minister of Magic!"
Harry closed his eyes and bowed his head in submission to their demand. He wanted them to be happy and if this would bring them joy then he would gladly shoulder this burden. He raised his hand and spoke,
"I accept your decision but all of you will have to help me. I might not be able to fulfil all your expectations but I will try my best."
The Atrium burst with the sound of cheers and celebration while Harry's heart was bursting with grief. Voldemort should have been here. This was his place, his position, his post. How could he just throw everything away and leave like he had done? Harry searched desperately for a glimmer of hope but saw none. Everything inside him was still black with despair. But at least everyone else was happy. He looked around at Bellatrix, Sirius and the twins who were practically radiating joy and he smiled for them. Luna had said that joy was out of sight but not out of reach. He just had to grab it. But that was where Luna had been wrong. Joy would elude him forever.
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