After recovering at the Burrow, Rachele is ready to go home. And there is someone there waiting for her.
Enjoy!
Chapter Seven – Going Home
Harry and Rachele walked for a few miles, filling the time with mindless chatter. They reached a grassy clearing and settled on a small hill overlooking the valley. They sat cross-legged and faced each other.
Rachele leaned forward and threaded her fingers together. "So. Here we are."
Harry ruffled his hair. "I'm guessing you know what I wanna talk about."
Rachele nodded solemly. "The war right?" She smiled slightly. "Well you're still here. So Mr Voldy must be good and dead."
Harry chuckled dryly. "Yeah. Him and most of his followers were either killed or arrested. But a select few are still on the loose."
"Yeah. Gertrude Clarken being one of them." Rachele growled.
Harry frowned. "She's a Death Eater?"
Rachele rolled her eyes. "Well duh. Where do you think she ran off to after she was expelled? I'll give you a hint. Not home."
Harry waved his hand. "Alright I get it. I guess it was pretty obvious. She always was the devious type."
Rachele snorted. "That's an understatement." She looked at him. "And what about Bellatrix? Is she still gallavanting about?"
Harry grinned. "No she's dead. Mrs Weasley killed her"
Rachele's eyebrows shot up. "Molly? Seriously? Wow how did she manage that?"
"Bellatrix nearly killed Ginny so she went all protective mother on her. She used some kind of spell that froze her to an ice-like state. Then she made her shatter into bits with some kinda Reducto blast."
Rachele gawked. "Blimey...remind me not to piss that woman off."
Harry chuckled. "She's had seven kids. She's a tough woman."
Rachele smiled. "There's no greater fury than the wrath of a woman. Especially one with children."
Harry nodded. "Can't argue with that."
Rachele looked up at the sky. "By the way Harry, I've been meaning to ask." When he rose an eyebrow she said. "I haven't seen Hedwig lately. Not since before the term...started..." She trailed off at the depressed look on his face. "Harry...?"
He stared at his hands. "Remember when you helped with the escort to the Burrow?" She nodded. "Well, just before you came to help, I was almost hit by a killing curse. But..." He gritted his teeth. "...Hedwig flew into it's path and..." He couldn't continue.
Rachele gasped in horror. "No! Oh Harry I'm so sorry."
He smiled grimly. "It's fine...she saved my life. I'm just sorry I can't return the favour."
Rachele held his hand. "But you did return it Harry, you won the war. By doing that, you've given her the peace she deserves." She smiled. "She's happy. Along with anyone else who was lost."
He gripped her hand. "Rach..I-" He sighed. "Damn it, I hate this."
Rachele frowned. "Harry?"
Harry looked at her. "I didn't want to keep this from you any longer. You deserve to know."
She stared at him. "Know what?"
He paused for a moment before answering "The people who died at Hogwarts."
Rachele felt that dread rise again. "H...How many?"
Harry looked down. "Too many. Most of them students."
Rachele swallowed the bile that had risen to her throat. "Who were they?"
Harry shook his head. "I can't name them all. Only a few."
Rachele exhaled shakily. "Please..."
Harry took a breath. "Lavender...Colin...Nigel..."
Those names alone hit her gut like a ton of bricks. She hadn't known Lavender very well, but she didn't deserve to die...not like this. Colin and Nigel. They were practically children. They shouldn't have been fighting in the first place. But nothing was compared to the names she heard next.
"Remus...Tonks...Fred..."
Rachele let out a sob and buried her face in her hands. Remus and Tonks had been her friends for as long as she could remember. But they were dead. Put down by those damn Death Eaters. And she wasn't there to help them. And Fred! Why Fred? And how was George taking this? Losing your twin is like ripping off one of your limbs. You're alive. But you're never the same. She couldn't even comprehend the thought if she had lost Hermione.
"Voldemort killed Snape."
Rachele stared at him in shock. "What? Why?"
"Because he thought Snape was the master of the elder wand."
Rachele frowned. "Why would Snape be the master?"
Harry grimaced. "He killed Dumbledore."
Rachele shook her head. "What an idiot. You become the master after you disarm the person. Not kill them."
Harry shrugged. "It's Voldemort." He said simply.
Rachele ran both hands through her hair. "I...um...I..." She stood up, suddenly feeling uneasy. "I can't...I just..."
Harry rose with her. "Rachele. Don't do that. None of this is your fault. It's all Voldemort."
Rachele shook her head. "But I'm still responsible." She looked at him, her green eyes shimmering. "My job, Harry, my whole reason for existing is to protect human-kind! What's the point if I can't even save a few of my friends!"
"It's war Rach!" Harry said firmly. "People die. It's what happens."
Rachele turned away. "I shouldn't have left. I should've stayed and helped. I didn't need to bring dragons and unicorns. What the hell was I thinking?"
Harry put an hand on her shoulder. "It gave us an advantage. Because of you, we were able to win."
Rachele let out another sob. "Remus...Tonks...Fred. I'm so sorry." She turned away and bolted back to the Burrow.
"Rachele wait!" Harry called out but she just kept running. He let out a long sigh. "Maybe it wasn't a good idea to tell her."
Everyone looked up at the sound of a door bursting open. Rachele ran past the living room and straight up the stairs. Seconds later they heard another door slam shut. Robert and Claudia looked at each other quizzically. Nodding to the other, they rose together and followed after her. They found her on the bed with her face buried into her knees, her body convulsing uncontrollably.
"Rach?" Robert asked as he sat next to her and rubbed her back while Claudia chose to sit directly in front of her. Rachele raised her head an inch and they could see the tears cascading down her cheeks.
Claudia touched her leg. "What's wrong? Talk to us."
Rachele uncurled her body and let herself fall onto her best friends shoulder. The younger girl was startled for a moment, but she quickly softened and placed her arms around her distraught friend.
Robert frowned. "This is bad. I've seen her cry before but...nothin like this."
Claudia studied Rachele's shaking form. "Maybe ask Harry? She was just talking to him."
Robert clenched his fist. "That bastard better not be the cause of this."
"It-it's...it's not his fault." Rachele's broken voice rasped out. She lifted her head to look at him. "He didn't...do anything."
Claudia gripped Rachele's shirt. "What happened? Tell us."
Rachele looked down. "H-he..." She swallowed thickly. "He told me...what happened. The friends we lost...he told me their names." She lowered her head in shame. "I feel like such a fool."
Robert shuffled closer so she was snuggled between him and Claudia. "This isn't your fault Gryffindor. Those people chose to fight. They knew the risk."
"He's right." Claudia agreed. "You shouldn't feel ashamed."
Rachele gazed sadly at the blanket she sat upon. "I just...I should've been there. I could've made a difference if I stayed and helped." She wiped her eyes tiredly. "Is this the future that's waiting for me? No matter what I do or how much power I possess, I'm going to watch people die." She scoffed. "Guardian of the Earth my arse."
Robert shuffled over and grabbed her hand. "Don't be so hard on yourself." He smiled. "Do you remember what you told us earlier this year? It was after you came back from rescuing Hermione from being tortured. You told us Dobby had been killed."
Rachele sighed sadly. "I can't save everyone."
Robert nodded. "The same goes for the people we lost at Hogwarts. Even if you had stayed, lives would've been lost. Sometimes these things are unavoidable."
Rachele lowered her head shamefully. "But it hurts...so many innocent lives destroyed."
Claudia held her closer. "And at the hands of Tom Riddle. He's responsible, nobody else."
Robert nodded in agreement. "She's right. He started this war. We helped end it. That's all there is to it."
Rachele smiled at them. "What would I do without you guys?" She pulled them close so she was sandwiched between the two before wrapping her arms around their shoulders and creating a three-way hug. They had done it. They had survived. Now she could live in peace with her best friend and the love of her life.
After spending a couple of care-free days with the Weasleys, Rachele decided it was finally time to return to home. While she loved the wizarding world and all her friends in it, the Muggle World was her home; where her heart was. Claudia was more than happy to join her, she wanted to leave the painful memories of her family behind her. They were the past. Out there was the future. She was ready to begin a whole new life for herself.
Robert, however, was required to return to his home and attend to family matters. But he didn't leave without promising Rachele that he would stand up to his relatives and declare her as the woman he wanted to spend his life with, regardless of the prejudice objections that his father was bound to catapult at him. On the morning of their departure, Rachele spared no effort in smothering him with adoring affection.
"I'll miss you." She whispered as they parted from their kiss.
Robert smiled lovingly at her. "Don't worry. Once this is done, we'll be together forever." He gave her another kiss. "I promise."
Rachele stretched her arms around his neck and touched her forehead to his. "I love you."
Robert pulled her into a crushing hug. "I love you so much."
After a few more lingering kisses, they finally managed to part ways, with their hands holding on as long as they could manage. They locked eyes for one last fleeting moment until Robert finally disapparated. With deflating shoulders, Rachele dragged her feet back to the Burrow to finish her own goodbyes to Harry, Hermione and the Weasley family.
Rachele softly stroked long red-hair as Ginny clung to her like no tomorrow. "I don't want you to go." The younger girl whined.
Rachele chuckled. "I can teleport ya know. I'll visit you so much you'll be sick of me."
Ginny looked up with a mock-glare. "You better."
She smiled. "Cross my heart." She promised before moving onto the rest of the family. If she thought Ginny's hug was suffocating she had another thing coming. Molly squeezed her so hard she was afraid her eyeballs would burst out of their sockets. Ron managed to gently pry his mother away, allowing Rachele to take a breath. He too took his turn giving her his own hug and wishing her well. Rachele admired the long way Ron had come, from that paranoid boy in first year to the mature man he was today. The boy who once hated all Slytherins, and now ironically was good buddies with one. Just goes to show how it was never impossible for a person to change.
Arthur settled with giving her a friendly handshake, being sure to thank her for everything she'd done over the years, including being a unforgettable friend to his children. Rachele wasn't accepting any formality and stepped forward to give him a hug.
"Thank you Arthur." She backed away and grinned at him. "For being both a friend and a father to me."
Arthur smiled. "It would've been an honour to have you as my official daughter."
Rachele smiled and squeezed his hands. "I'm just glad I could be a sister to Ginny. The poor girl was so deprived."
Arthur chuckled. "I have no doubt she's very grateful for that. But seriously Rachele..." He placed a fatherly hand on her head. "Thank you...for all you've done for us."
Rachele smiled and shrugged modestly. "It was nothing. You guys are my family. That's all that matters." She turned and found Harry rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. She walked over to him with a grin.
"What's the matter Potter? Not that crash hot with goodbyes?"
Harry looked put out. "I just don't like them okay?"
Rachele reached over and ruffled his hair. "Come on it's just me! You're sister from another mother!"
Harry rolled his eyes. "The annoying sister you mean."
She punched his arm. "Oi...watch it you..."
Harry laughed and opened his arms. "C'mere then."
Rachele bounced over and accepted his gesture, throwing her arms around his shoulders. She then smirked deviously and adjusted their hug so that she had his head in a firm headlock. "Gonna miss ya bro!" She laughed while scruffing up his hair.
"Hey! That was uncalled for!" Harry said struggling to escape her tight grip.
"Nuh uh! This is payback for doing it to me last year!"
"Let go!"
"Nope!"
"Bloody hell stop!"
"Bloody hell, make me!"
Everyone around them laughed full-heartedly as they goofed around like typical siblings. They may not be related, but they were as close as a brother and sister could be.
After a long minute, Rachele released him, laughing at his tossled black mop. "Nice hair Potter."
Harry glared while attempting to tame his locks. "I hate you."
Rachele stuck her tongue out. "You love me."
Harry looked away. "Yeah, yeah whatever..." He mumbled.
Rachele then turned to Hermione who was anxiously twiddling her fingers. "Before you say anything..." She started. "Um...I need a favour."
Rachele tilted her head curiously. "What's up?"
Hermione nodded. "It's really big like...tremendously huge."
Rachele rose an eyebrow. "Okay..."
Hermione stared at her hands. "I...I was wondering, well I was thinking...about looking for my parents and restoring their memories." She glanced up at her sister. "And well I thought maybe...you'd like to come with me."
Rachele stared at her, stunned. With all the choas around her, seeing her parents again after all these years had never crossed her mind. In fact, she hadn't thought about them in quite some time. But Hermione had deliberately erased their memories to protect them; if anyone deserved to reunite with them, she did.
Rachele blew on her fringe. "Well...I guess better late than ever ey?"
Hermione looked up in shock. "You mean...you'll come?"
Rachele smiled. "Why not? It was bound to happen sooner or later right?"
Hermione let out a squeal and gave her a tight hug. "Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!"
Rachele laughed. "No prob. But listen..." She pulled away slightly. "I have a few other loose ends to take care of first. Give me a few days?"
Hermione nodded, still grinning widely. "Of course. In that case I'll stay here with Ron and his family."
Rachele smiled sympathetically, understanding her unspoken situation. 'Until her parents are found, she has nowhere else to go.' "I better go find Claudia then. I'll be seeing you soon?"
"You bet." Hermione said giving her a final hug.
A few minutes later, Rachele found Claudia waiting patiently by the backdoor, chatting casually to Ginny. The pair gave the red-head one last goodbye before Rachele teleported them back to the outskirts of London. Rachele decided to appear a small distance away from the house to bask in the tranquility of the countryside.
"By the way Claudia." She turned to her best friend as they trekked along the dirt road. "I haven't seen Tiger since I woke up. How is he?"
Claudia smiled. "He was with you the first few days after the war ended. But seeing you like that bothered him quite a bit, so he's probably waiting at home."
Rachele frowned. "By himself?"
Claudia shook her head. "Not all the time. I checked on him every second or third day."
Rachele smiled. "Thanks. I owe you one. Ah! Home sweet home!"
There on the hill with nothing but the valley as it's neighbour sat their luxurious house. Definitely a sight for sore eyes after the amounts of conflict they had suffered through the last several months. The two girls hiked up the gravel path, towards the front door. Rachele conjured her keys to quickly let them in. She smiled nostagically as she took it all in; everything was as she left it as though she never left. But there was still no sign of her feline companion.
"Probably konked out on my bed." She told Claudia with an eye roll. "Lazy furball."
Claudia giggled. "Go say hi then. He's missed you terribly."
Rachele smiled. "Alright, won't be a min." She beelined through the house until she came to her bedroom. She carefully opened the door and peeped inside. Just as she predicted, there was Tiger, sprawled out like a rug on her perfectly made bed. For a moment she just watched him, only realizing how much she had really missed him. She made her way over and sat by him before reaching over to softly pat his head. The sleepy tabby responded with a stretch and a purr.
"Mmmrff...is it time for dinner?"
Rachele laughed. "What a nice homecoming welcome."
Tiger's ears perked up at the sound of her voice. He looked up at her with bright, round yellow eyes. "Mistress! You're awake!"
Rachele smiled. "So people keep telling me. How are you pusscat?"
With a sad, longing meow, he lifted himself up to all fours before standing up and stretching his front paws towards her. Rachele picked him up and gave him a warm cuddle. "I'm sorry. I won't ever leave you this long again. I promise"
Tiger wrapped his paws around her neck while nuzzling her face with his. "It's okay Mistress. I'm just happy you're home."
"Me too Pusscat...me too." She laid down on the bed, gently stroking his back as he happily snuggled into her. Rachele closed her eyes and smiled, content with holding him close and running her fingers through his stripy fur. Eventually, with the familiar sound of Tiger's soft, resonating purrs, she allowed herself to be lulled into a deep, relaxed dreamless sleep.
At last...she was home.
End of Chapter
Rachele is finally home and reunited with her precious kitty. What could possibly be left to write about? ;D Only one way to find out.
See ya then!
