Why did he have to Exist
(part six)
Disclaimer - Not owned by me..as everyone already knows..I mean, it is called a fan fiction after all...written by the fan...me being the fan who is writing it...Lets see...the characters are owned by J.K. Rowling and company...as is Hogwarts...Marseilles is owned by the Country of France....I own Claire Chatier...ok, technically I don't because she is Hermione, so scratch that....I don't own anything...wait, that's wrong I own Professor Mari Truman. I made up in my own head. I think that's about it>
Harry and Hermione arrived at thirty minutes before the advised time on the invitation said. It wasn't intentional, that's just how it turned out. They landed on the lawn, and walked up to the great door.
"You sure this going to work Harry, I mean if anyone figured out the truth."
"No on is going to figure out the truth. I mean, if I didn't know it was you already I would never had guessed." And it was true, she did look different. She was wearing a long summer dress, and they had used magic to straighten out her hair and make it blond and also whiten out her skin. There was also the fact that she had changed a lot during ten years, or even five anyway. She had also been working on a way to change her voice. A perfect little french accent. She had been doing it the whole way over, and Harry was starting to get annoyed. He knocked on the door. A couple of seconds later it was pulled open by a small witch that they didn't recognize.
"Yes, hello?" She said in small shaky voice.
"We are here for the reunion." Harry said.
"Oh yes" she replied, getting a look on her face like she understood what was going on. "You must be Mr. Potter. Headmaster Dumbledore said you might be arriving early. He said for you to come up to his office." She opened the door all the way. "I am Professor Truman, if you would follow me." She led them through the castle, up to Dumbledore's office, but Harry didn't really need to be led. even after ten years of absence, he knew the way to his office like that back of his hand. The door opened and they stepped in. Inside the office looked just like it had the last time Harry had stepped in. Some things never change. Prof. Dumbledore was sitting in his chair when they arrived, and he turned around when they entered.
"Mari, you may go now." he said to the woman Professor.
"Yes sir" she replied, and quickly turing around, she was gone.
"Harry, Hermione, I am so glad you decided to come. I had thought both of you had lost touch with the English wizarding world." Both of them stepped back when he said this.
"How did you know it was me?" Hermione said in her normal voice.
"I must say, you did a very good job of disguising yourself. If I had seen you on the street I would have never guessed I was looking at one of my former students. I had a hunch that Harry was going to bringing you though."
"But..." Harry started to say.
"Now it doesn't matter how I knew, lets just say that a little bird told me. Now don't worry, I wasn't planning on turning you in." He chuckled.
"That was one of the reasons we got here early. I was wondering if you could help us out." Harry said
"Us? I didn't know they were after you too Harry?"
"They're not, yet anyway. It's just I kinda promised someone I would help her out."
"Hummm" He looked over them for a couple of seconds. "I suppose that would work. Yes" He paused. "I've already had one of my favorite students go to Azkaban for something they didn't do. You two are not going to follow in his footsteps." He had a twinkle in his eye that Harry knew well. He looked just like he did that time he told them how to go rescue Sirus their third year. "I'll show you to some spare rooms. We can talk more after the reunion tomorrow. Come" He stood up from his desk and they followed him out of the office.
Ron had arrived at the Reunion about ten minutes late. His three year old had taken his broom, and it took him forever to find it. He didn't mind, that much. The kid was adorable. It was a pity he couldn't have taken him with him, but Victoria had to work, and Ron knew he could never handle him alone. Plus if little Will had come, it would have been impossible to take brooms in the first place. He sighed and walked into the great hall. There were already thirty or forty people mingling about. He saw a group of his old house mates and he hurried over towards them.
"Ron...Ron Wesley" a man who looked just like Seamus said.
"Seamus...Hello! How is it going?" He put out his hand, which Seamus shook furiously.
"You remember Lavender and Dean of course." Seamus said, pointed to the two people he was standing with.
"Of course, how could I forgot. Have you seen the rest?" He shook hands with them as well
"If you're talking about Harry and Hermione, no. I didn't even think they were coming. But everyone else from Gryfindor is around here somewhere" Lavender said.
"He sent me an owl saying he was coming, bringing some mysterious visitor." Ron replied.
"I read about that in the Daily Profit the other day. I think everyone in England knows about him and this mysterious girl" Dean laughed. "I wonder who it is?"
"Why don't you ask her yourself?" Ron heard a voice behind them say. All four of them turned around, and standing there was Harry with a woman, who looked very familiar.
"Claire Chatier, I have heard so much about you four." She said in a soft french accent. It seemed so familiar, but he just couldn't place it. It was as if he knew her from somewhere, he just didn't know where. He couldn't take his gaze from her.
"So where did you two meet? We all want to know?" Lavender said, asking the question on everyone's mind.
"In Marseilles, a couple months ago." Harry replied, but Ron knew he was lying just by the look on his face.
"Wow, so you're from France, amazing." Lavender continued, this time looking at 'Claire'
"Not really, I was actually born in England." She responded.
"I want to know all about you. Come, lets get something to drink." The two of them walked off. Seamus and Dean were having their own little conversation, so this left Harry and Ron. They looked at each other.
"So.."
"Yea.."
"I'm sorry I didn't reply to those letters. I had a lot on my mind."
"That's ok, I was angry at first, but not anymore." He paused. "But tell me truthfully, did you really meet this girl in Marseilles a couple months ago.
"Yes"
"Harry, please. I know when you are not telling the truth. I went to school with you for seven years."
"Ron, can I ask you a serious question here? Friend to friend."
"Yes, of course."
"Say, supposedly, you ran into Hermione one day, on the street or somewhere, would you turn her in."
"That was a random question, but to answer it, No, the thought wouldn't have even crossed my mind. She used to be our best friend. I would be angry, but I wouldn't turn her in. You didn't turn her in did you?"
"No..no, of course not. " Harry said frantically. " I was just wondering if you would?"
"Why? That's not Hermione over there is it?" Ron asked, glancing over towards Lavender and 'Claire'.
"Shush...If anyone hears you. I don't want anyone to get any ideas."
"Any ideas, you're harboring a criminal. You could go to Azkaban for this. And Hermione of all people."
"What, I thought you said she used to be our best friend."
"Used to, exactly. I wouldn't turn her in, but I wouldn't help her either. After all she did to you."
"I know, you don't think that crossed my mind as well. She almost ruined my life. I am doing this as a friend, nothing more. I promised someone I would help her out before I knew it was her I was helping out. If it was Mary Jane off the street I would help her out as well. Ok, so I still have feeling for her. There is nothing I can do about that." He paused "I am planning on leaving her here, and going back to my regular life. My only obligation is to get her out of France. She is on her own after that."
"Why? You have the perfect opportunity to be together with her. Why leave her now."
"Well aren't you the Devils advocate tonight. Anyway she left me once, who's to say she isn't going to leave me again."
"I suppose you are right. Are you going to introduced. Lavender ran off with her before you introduced us" Ron gave a small laugh.
"I guess..." Harry replied. They walked over to where the girls were gathered. "Claire, may steal you away for a moment."
"But of course." she replied, in a high soft voice. "Lavender, we must talk again. I so want to know more about your school. Harry doesn't tell me a thing." She gave a high laugh and walked towards where Harry was standing. If that was Hermione, she sure seemed to be having a grand time with the acting bit. As soon as she was not in hearing range, her face fell.
"I never did like that girl..too peppy if you ask me" she muttered. Her expression quickly changed when she saw Ron. "Hello, you must be Ron." She said again in the same voice she had been using all night.
"Yes, I'm Ron" He replied, trying to repress a laugh.
"Is something wrong?" She replied, looking down at him.
"No, nothings wrong." She quickly turned back to Harry.
"Harry, What was it you wanted to talk to me about?"
"Ron and I were planning on going on a short walk around the grounds. I was wondering if you wanted to go, but if you were enjoying your discussions." He motioned towards the door.
"A walk sounds divine. Let us go at once." And so off they went. When they were out of hearing range from the castle Harry stopped. "Why are we stopping. Is there something here to see." She quickly looked around, her eyes darting.
"You can quit with the voice now. It is getting quite annoying." Harry said reluctantly.
"But what about." She nodded her head towards Ron.
"Well, he knows."
"You told him, but what if someone overheard." She replied, in her normal voice.
"No one overheard, I don't think anyone was eavesdropping on our conversation."
"But what if he.." she nodded in Ron's direction.
"Hey, what do you think me for." Ron interrupted. " Me, turn my friend in..never." She turned to him and finally smiled.
"Oh thank you Ron." She said, and then suddenly run up and hugged him. He looked over at Harry startled.
"Anytime." He muttered.
"Ok, now that everyone is aquatinted, we better head back to the reunion or we might be missed." Harry commented with Ron and Hermione were finally separated.
"Good idea" Ron replied, showing the way. When they returned to the Great hall..it was hustling and bustling as much as before. They started towards the refreshments when Ron saw Lavender come rushing over with another blond haired woman. Ron saw Hermione cringe out of the corner of his eye.
"Claire....hey, I want to introduce you to someone." Hermione rolled her eyes, and replied in the same high voice she had been using all night.
"Right, Lavender is it. I'll be right there." Lavender waved a replied, and Hermione turned to them. "It seemed I am wanted, you will be ok without me."
"But of course Claire dear. You go have fun." Harry replied smirking.
The rest of the reunion went smoothly. No body else guessed Claire's real identify, and so it was a secret between her, Harry, Ron, and Dumbledore. Finally after a weekend of fun and games it was over. Finally, by the end of sunday everyone had gone home. Ron, Harry, and Hermione were the only ones left on the lawn.
"it's been great seeing you two." Ron said, giving them both hugs and taking his broom in his hand. "Are you two planning to come up to the Burrow on Wednesday. I mentioned it in my letter.
"But of course, if I can't by some strange reason I'll send an owl. I can't wait to see your family."
"Wow..this sure is a change is attitude. if I would have asked you a year ago you would have made up some excuse." he laughed. "But no hard feelings." He got on the broom. "See you later" and he was gone. Harry and Hermione turned and walked into the castle. Harry had talked with Dumbledore, and he said that Hermione could stay at Hogwarts, under an alias of course as long as she needed, as long as no one found out. He figured that if people he went to school with for seven years didn't find out, random people wouldn't have a chance. She was going to stay as an assistant of some sorts, he didn't know the exact details. He wished he could stay with her, but he knew that it would never work. He wouldn't be able to forgive her, and now that they had met like this, he could finally get on with his life. He had a job, a life in Marseilles. He wasn't about to drop that for a girl who had dropped him five years ago, even if he did love her more then anything.
Those two days passed by faster then anything, and it was time for him to leave for Ron's. He still hadn't told Hermione that he wasn't returning. He had packed up all his clothes and was about to leave when Hermione stopped him at the door. She was wearing black school robes, and besides her hair she looked just like he remembered her.
"I want to ask you two things before you leave?" she asked, blocking the door.
"You can ask, but I don't know if I will give you the answers." He responded, sitting back down on the bed
"First, do you forgive me." She sat down beside him.
"Forgive you? What do you mean?"
"Do you forgive me for what I did to you?"
"I don't know, do you think I should have forgiven you. Would you have forgiven me?"
"No..I suppose not" she replied slowly.
"Well then, that's your answer. What else did you want to ask?"
"Nothing, I know the answer now" she turned away, wiping her eyes. He stood up and walked to the door.
"You sure?" She paused.
"Are you coming back?" she said, trying to keep her voice from shaking. He turned towards her.
"No, probably not. You know I can't."
"Why not..I thought..." She couldn't finish her sentence.
"Because I have a life back in France. Everyone knows where I was, and if I don't return it won't be good." He sat back down on the bed. "Come on Hermione, don't do this. You are making me feel even more guilty then I feel already."
"I'm sorry..I didn't mean to make you feel guilty."
"That's ok. I'll owl you as soon as I get home."
"Ok...goodbye...and thanks"
"Anytime" he replied, waving as he shut the door. As soon as he was gone, she laid back on the bed and let the tears flow. She had lost him, again, and this time it wasn't her fault. Yes it was, the voice inside her head said. Sure, it was his decision to go back to France, but it was your decision to leave him those five years ago. Please, she moaned, throwing her hands over her head. She just wanted the voice to go away. Where was she now, hiding out in her old school, wanted by the Ministry Police, the person she spent the last five years with in Azkaban, and the person she loved had left and there was nothing she could do about it.
As soon as the door was shut he turned and stared at it, not knowing what to do. He was torn in two directions. One part of him was saying to open that door and go to her and tell her that he will never leave her and they will be together forever and ever and then there is the other rational part of him saying that this was the smart thing to do, not to get tied down again. He survived without her for five years, he could do it again. It wasn't the end of the world, at least he knew were she way. Go to Rons, have fun, and then go back to your job and home in Marseilles. He didn't know how long he stood there, but in the end the rational side won, and he turned and went off to Rons, not looking back
OH YEAH...it's finished...at least this part is...yes, there is more..can you believe it...One more chapter..I promise...This part took me longer then regular to write because I got stuck on the spot where Ron, Hermione, and Harry are having a conversation...I had major writers block there..and well, that's why it's pretty lame. Not my best work. Ok..now then...I'm just going to remind you to please review...I seem to have the luck of people only reviewing my stories 6-7 times..lets see if we can beet that...I know you can do it...>