Where have you been?

Disclaimer: See previous chapters.

Chapter 10

Harry looked at his ex-best friend:

"Where have I been, Hermione? You can answer that question too. Why'd you ask me then?"

"I know where you have lived your life all these years. I know you have a family, children. But I'm asking you something else. You can interpret my question this way - why you've never called?"

"Well, I asked the very same thing, but you told me to shut up." Hissed Ron indignantly.

Hermione weren't listening to him though, she continued glancing at Harry. Finally, he gave up and said quietly:

"Why can't you understand this? I wanted it all to end. I didn't want to see anymore Cedric dying, Sirius, Seamus, Remus, Cho. I-. Have you ever thought that maybe I wasn't happy. I was truly happy only my first three years at Hogwarts. Then Voldemort came back and my life turned to hell. And it became worse with every year. In my seventh year I even-" he trailed off his eyes full of painful tears.

Hermione suddenly became afraid. She had never seen Harry crying. Never. She hadn't realized this until now and it hit her very hard. What had happened in his seventh year that Harry was so upset, that he was on the verge of tears, something he hadn't told them?

"What, you're going to cry all over us now?" asked Ron grimly.

Harry looked at him, the tears vanished in an instant. His, now, icy glance penetrated Ron's eyes and he asked quietly:

"You wanna know? Huh? Fine then. At the age of 17 I became a murderer."

Hermione looked at him incredulously and said:

"Harry, killing Voldemort is not exactly a murder. He wasn't technically a human anymore. So why are you giving a damn about it. Besides, nobody sees you in this way."

Harry smiled sadly: "Remember Bellatrix Lestrange? Have you never wondered what happened to her?"

Seeing Ron wouldn't say a word, Hermione answered unsure:

"Well, she just disappeared, we believe she is still in hiding and-"she stopped dead in her tracks, because Harry just began laughing. "Harry, what are you doing?"

"Believe me, she's not in hiding. Why am I so sure? Simply because I killed her."

Dead silence followed that statement.



"And this here is Ron's old bedroom. It's nothing big or pompous as you see, but it's been our home for very long."

"No, Molly, I think it's very cozy and-. Well, I won't deny it's a bit strange for me, but anyway-"

"Mum! It's brilliant!" said James joyfully. "Maybe I could rearrange my room back at home. It's cool, isn't it, Sebastian?"

Sebastian glared at his brother and answered:

"Yeah." Feeling that with these words he had ended with his part in the conversation, he went in and stopped to look curiously at the moving tattered poster of the Chudley Cannons.

"We can go and check if these three downstairs are ready. And if Hermione has already suffocated Harry." Said Bill smiling. They all laughed and walked out of the room.

Sebastian stayed behind, an annoyed expression on his face. Suddenly a girl's voice piped up from behind him:

"If you're considering becoming their fan I should warn you they haven't won the championship since, uh well, I don't know since when exactly." It was these Ron's and Hermione's daughter, Ashley, was it?

"What?" asked he surprised.

"The Chudley Cannons."

"Oh, the quidditch team? Ah, well, I haven't even watch it. So don't worry, I'm not exactly a fan." Said Sebastian.

"Well, I'm sure you gonna love it. After all it is in your blood."

"What does that supposed to mean?" asked Sebastian angrily. He was much aware of what she was talking about, because Jereth Malfoy had already told him almost everything he knew about Harry Potter. Another one who thought he was exactly like his father.

"Look, I don't care if my father was so great in playing quidditch, maybe I'm not! So just shut up and never tell me again that something is in my blood!" he spat out and rushed out of the small bedroom, leaving very confused Ashley in his wake.



"You kill- what are you- I-well- Are you serious?" exclaimed Hermione.

"Dead serious." Harry slumped in a chair and closed his eyes. "I killed her after I killed Voldemort. And this memory will haunt me forever."

"Aha, so you murdered Lestrange? Well, this isn't big loss for the world. And it's not a good enough explanation for your behavior. Has it entered your mind that perhaps we could help you in this situation?" asked Ron grimly.

"This isn't something I wanted you to know about." Said Harry simply.

"Well, now we know about it Harry. And we will stay by your side as always." Said Hermione quietly.

"Will we?" asked Ron sarcastic. "He didn't want to tell us this and now when he is up the wall we become his great mates again?"

"I'm up the wall? Do you realize what are you talking about? I'm rich, I have family and future. Maybe I don't need you anymore, Weasley?" Harry didn't understand what he had just said until the words came out. Ron blushed furiously and retort:

"Fine, the great Harry Potter has used his friends and he doesn't need them anymore."

Then Hermione went to Harry and took his hand:

"No, he does." Said she quietly, looking him straight in the eyes."

Ron realized that strange things were happening before his eyes and yelled suddenly understanding everything:

"Bullshit!"

He stormed out of the room, grabbed his jacket and disapparated before his stunned relatives could ask him anything.



Of course, after these events the dinner was a complete failure. Harry and Hermione were only saying 'Yes', 'No', 'Thanks', 'Here you are'. Sebastian and Ashley were doing exactly the same and the girl actually was on the verge of tears. Mathew was feeling something was wrong and he was keeping his mouth shut. Adrian was joyfully eating, not paying attention to anything. The Weasleys and Amanda were doing their best to lighten the mood in the room, but obviously, Mrs. Weasley's idea of a wonderful dinner with Harry and his family was ruined. So everyone was relieved when it was time to go. The Potters bid goodbye and apparated in Toronto.

"Okay, what happened?" asked Charlie anxious.

Hermione didn't even look at him, she took her daughter by the hand and disapparated too.

"Okay, I'm totally confused now, really. What was THAT?" George stared at his mother as for awaiting her to know everything.

"It's pretty obvious. Our very stupid brother said or did something stupid." Said Fred.

"Like that's something new." Added George smiling.



James stared at the ceiling, trying to forget the events from tonight. He had never heard his parents screaming at each other and it definitely wasn't pleasant experience. Suddenly he heard a light knock on the door of his room and then a small voice:

"James?" it was his brother Adrian. Obviously the boy had heard the shouting and was afraid or something.

"Come in, Adrian."

Adrian opened the door and looked tearfully at his brother.

"Why were mum and dad yelling? Asked he quietly. James told him to shut the door.

"Why, James?" asked the child again. At first, the prankster in him almost made him to say 'Go and ask Sebastian.' But then he realized how scared is Adrian and said:

"I don't know."

Sebastian pulled the pillow over his head and groaned. Would they shut up and go to bed? Then he heard more yelling, cursing and then someone slammed a door. Sebastian lifted his head hopefully and strained himself to hear something. Nothing. He smiled broadly and moaned:

"Finally, now let sleep!"



Amanda shrieked without bothering that the neighbors could hear her or that she could wake up the boys. She was furious:

"Tell me, what's wrong with you! You're acting like an idiot! We were their guests! Did you realize how uncomfortable was the whole situation for me?"

"I don't care! I didn't want to go at first place! You cannot use this against me!"

" So now you're blame shifting? I can't believe that!" shouted Amanda now completely out of control.

"Yes, it's not my fault! I'm not saying it's yours, but you made me go there! So don't just stand here telling me that I am the one to be blamed! When you wanted to buy this stupid house in Ottawa, I said 'Ok, sweetie.' I go along with everything, right sweetheart?"

"That's it. That is IT! You, you g-go along! You can't be a normal husband and that's the way you're dealing with it!"

"Okay, when I'm not a good husband, maybe I should go then?"

"Maybe you should!" screamed Amanda and stormed out from the room.

"Great! Fine then! Have it your way!" yelled Harry furiously after her. Then he looked at his feet, still trembling with anger and moaned:

"What these damned women want?"



A/n: I know this chapter was late, but I have problems with my laptop and I couldn't write it properly. Anyway, hope you like it. Please Rewiew people!!

Bye