Portia and her Sister
Chapter 7. Epilogue
See disclaimer in chapter one.
Hermione arranged to have all their gifts sent to their home in London. She kept the many cards with her to read that evening. They had reservations to stay the night at The Pestana Chesea Bridge Hotel in London. Very posh. As Merlin once said, 'All good things must come to an end'; so Ron, Hermione, and Portia went by floo to their home.
The newlyweds changed from their wedding clothes, and saying thanks to Portia and Harry with kisses and hugs goodbye, they took a cab to the hotel.
Portia and Harry were sitting at the kitchen table finishing a butterbeer. "Harry, are you hungry? I could make you something if you would like."
"No thanks. I think I will just go to bed."
"Harry, I was watching you and Ginny today. I may be young, but I know that I saw something there between you two. Do you love her Harry? Because I could see the love in her eyes when she looked at you."
"Yes little girl, I do love her."
"Then why don't you do something about it instead moping around feeling sorry for yourself?"
"Portia, it's none of your business what I do. Besides, it's very complicated, you wouldn't understand."
"Why don't you try me Harry. What do you have to lose, besides a beautiful redhead who's in love with you."
"Words of wisdom from a little under aged muggle school girl? You don't know anything about it Portia. Just leave me alone."
Portia sighed. "Your right Harry. I am just a little muggle school girl, and I don't know anything about it. So what do you have to lose by talking to me?"
Harry sighed. "Nothing, I suppose. It's just very hard sometimes."
Harry's voice broke and his breathing choked. He forced back the tears that were looming in his eyes. "I think I'll go to bed now." he said.
"That's right, run away again. Find a bottle and lose yourself. That's not the way Harry. Do you really think Ginny would like to see what you have become? I don't think so."
"So what am I supposed to do? Your so smart, tell me. Just what am I supposed to do."
"First off Harry, if you truly love her, you must realize that she needs help, just as you do. You have to be the strong one Harry. Ginny can't do it alone. She needs you Harry, she needs your strength to help her."
After a long pause, Portia took a deep breath. "Harry, Ron said that the place you were living in wasn't suitable for rats. Do you think that's some place you could take Ginny? I think not. So for openers, get yourself a decent place to live. A place suitable for you and Ginny."
Harry didn't respond, he just sat there with his eyes starring into space.
There is help available for you Harry. All you have to do is ask. And get a job. I know you don't need the money, but you do need a feeling of respect, a feeling that you are actually doing something worth while. Then you will be able to go to Ginny and help her. You need her, Harry. And she desperately needs you. And she needs you soon, Harry, before something terrible happens to her. "
Harry still didn't respond. He continued to stare into space
"Well, that's all I can say, Harry. I'm going to bed. Goodnight. See you in the morning."
Portia slept in the next morning. It was past nine when she stumbled into the kitchen. As she expected, Harry was not there, but had left a note for her.
'Portia, I am sorry for my attitude towards you last night. I was a right git, and I apologize. Everything you said was true. You have amazing insight for one so young. I do have a lot to do to straighten out my life, and I am starting on that today, thanks to you. It hit me hard, hearing your words of wisdom. No one ever dared to talk to me like that before. I'm embarrassed that it took a young muggle girl to put some sense into my head. But as I said, you were dead-on right. Thank you, Portia. I will never forget you. Thank you.'
Harry
Portia read Harry's note several times. She felt good that maybe she had gotten through to him, and that he was taking her advise. She had just started breakfast when Ron and her sister returned. She thought for a minute, then decided not to show them Harry's note. This is between Harry and I, she said to herself. Ron and Hermione had already eaten at the hotel, so they sat with her while she ate and talked about the wedding. The subject of Harry never came up.
Ron and Hermione spent the next week opening cards and gifts. Portia catalogued each item and prepared a list for thank-you notes. All the gifts were very nice, some being spectacular. Portia noted their reactions to each gift on her list. When Hermione opened the gift packet from Harry, she nearly had a conniption fit. Then she saw that the gift was from both Harry and Portia. Ron snatched it from Hermione's hands read the contents slowly, a sour expression building on his face with each word he read.
"NO WAY!" he shouted. "This must have cost Harry a fortune. We can't accept this, Mione. It's too much. We just can't accept it." Then he turned to Portia and exclaimed, "Portia! What's your part in this? Is this something Harry put you up to? Mione, I'm going to kill him. We can't accept this. NO WAY! NO HOW!"
Hermione glared at her sister. "Ron is right, SIS! This is too much. So what did Harry do to coerce you into being a part of this?"
Portia continued to pretend writing notes on her list, a small smirk on her face. She was in a quandary about how to handle this. How to respond. Finally she looked up, half glaring at them.
"You know, Harry is probably the nicest, most noble person I have ever met in my young life. That day I spent with him at Diagon Alley was one of the best days I have ever had. He treated me like an equal. Like a women. Harry Potter, the saviour of the wizarding world, held my hand and talked to me as we walked around the Alley."
"He was honest with me about himself. He talked to me like he had known me all my life. He wasn't self-centered or egotistical. He doesn't see himself as everyone else sees him, like some kind of hero. He's overly modest and hates the way people fawn over him."
"And you know what he said to me about the two of you? He said that you two were the only true friends he had. Then he included ME in that. Do you know how great that made me feel? He told me that you two had saved his skin countless times, just the other day in fact. He said that he will never forget what true friends you are to him. And you know the best part? Everything he said was completely honest and sincere. I felt it in his heart."
"When he told me that he wanted to get something special for your honeymoon, I remembered that you, sis, once told me that you have always wanted to see Bermuda. Great, he said. Come with me and help me plan this out for them. And I did. And you both deserve it. And if you think that I am going to sit here and listen to the two of you lamenting about how much it cost him, and that you can't except his sincere attempt to make you both happy, then you probable don't deserve his friendship."
Tears were forming in Portia's eyes as she got up to leave. Hermione grabbed her arm and drew her into her arms, hugging her and holding her close. "I'm so sorry, sis. Your right, Harry doesn't deserve this kind of reaction from us. I know that his intentions were honourable, and I feel terrible about the way we have reacted. I promise you that after you start school, Ron and I will take Harry's gift honeymoon and have a wonderful time. We promise."
"Absolutely," added Ron.
The following week Portia left for her new school, and Ron and Hermione went on their honeymoon trip. And they did have a wonderful time, as promised.
The End
A/N Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed. If you did, or if you didn't, please let me know.
The situation with Harry and Ginny, as alluded to here, can be found in the story 'Harry and Ginevra', also on this site.
Thank you
LFG
