TWENTY-NINE: The Power he Knew Not
"Jan 1•Aberfourth Dumbledore, Correspondence to his brother:
I tell you, if ever Voldemort is defeated, the New Year holiday will take on a whole new meaning.
I can't help but be a little less optimistic than you, brother, that Voldemort will eventually be overcome, and meet his loss, but there isn't a single patron who comes into this bar who doesn't hope upon any old star that this miracle could someday occur…"—From Albus and Aberfourth Dumbledore's Horcrux journal, p. 999
It was the final game of the Quidditch season. The big game that determined the team that represented England in the Quidditch World Cup. The game would also be the object of intense speculation amongst Quidditch circles, for the two finalist teams were to be Puddlemere United and the Chudley Cannons, who were riding a dry season of nearly sixty years, in terms of making it to the semifinals!
The new captain and keeper for Puddlemere, Oliver Wood, just called up from the reserve team, had a pretty good feeling about his team. The chasers, Stanford, Villiers and MacNaughtson were all entering their seventh year on the team, and were all very prolific, well seasoned players. The beaters were decent, having a record placing them third in the league overall. The Seeker, John Turner was slightly problematic. He was excellent at avoiding Bludgers, but his ability to recover the Snitch quickly was rather sub-par, and he was very gullible, easily falling victim to the opponent Seeker's diversionary tactics.
Nevertheless, Wood felt pretty darn optimistic that this year was Puddlemere's year. The commentator for Puddlemere (who were hosting the Cannons) agreed, and had little more to do than to call out the various plays during the game, not having much color to add where the players were concerned. Fairly deep into the game, Puddlemere led 60-20, Wood having only been fooled by two of the Cannons chasers' moves.
"Of course, everyone knows Wood's reputation," the commentator said, as Wood pulled off yet another spectacular save, "and fans of Puddlemere have been screaming for his promotion ever since our reserve team acquired him directly from school…and Templeton of the Cannons has the Quaffle, he's speeding towards Wood, who is very much at the top of the shortlist for this year's Gold Broom award, by the way…Templeton about in line with Wood and…wait…what?" The commentator's voice died away as a Ministry worker tapped him on the shoulder and whispered something in his ear. When the commentator spoke again, his voice was very shaky.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he said, fighting a rush of emotion, "I've just heard good news from the Ministry…that…that you-know-who is dead. For good. He's actually gone!" The commentator dissolved into tears.
In their shock, Templeton had not even noticed that he had thrown the Quaffle through Wood's middle hoop, nor did Wood notice he had let the Quaffle by him, as he was slumped on his broom, consumed by tears of joy and disbelief. It was so wonderful, and yet so impossible…slowly, as they took in what the commentator had said, the crowd began reacting. Some, like Wood and the commentator, were consumed by tears; others just jumped up and down and screamed, causing a celebratory pandemonium throughout Puddlemere's stadium. Wood flew over and hugged Templeton. The match was called a draw by the referee, and thousands of players and fans alike left the stadium together to celebrate.
Miles away, in the devastated London, in the old bar the Leaky Cauldron, Tom the landlord, and many of the Leaky Cauldron's regular patrons were gathered around Tom's old radio, listening anxiously to the WWW.
'And today's top stories,' the broadcaster announced, 'Bethelyn Hargrove has been accused of setting up regurgitating toilets near Stoke as well as other forms of Muggle-baiting, and has been tried by the Wizengamut and found guilty on all charges, an increase in Owl Fever has caused a shortage of postal owls in southern Hampshire, and delays in normal post owls are to be expected. If you own an owl currently, you are urged to pick up a handbook on owl fever available at your local magical creatures shop or apothecary. If you are concerned that you or one of your family may have contracted the disease from a family owl, please contact the department for magical creature injuries at St. Mungo's, and lastly…oh, wait…hang on, listeners…we have a news flash from the Ministry…very good news…I don't dare believe it…he-who-must-not-be-named is defeated. It's over!' Like the commentator at the Quidditch match, the broadcaster had trouble keeping control over his voice. Tom bowed his old wizened head as the tavern became a cacophony of sound.
"Yeh did it, Harry! I knew yeh would!!" Hagrid roared. Doris Crockford hugged a wry man sitting next to her, even though she had never met him before. Lee Jordan, Seamus Finnegan and Dean Thomas, who had been resting at the Leaky Cauldron after a stint in St. Mungo's, for injuries sustained in the London battle, were jumping up and down, cheering. Madame Pomfrey, the Hogwarts nurse, who had been enjoying a cuppa with Professors Sprout and McGonagall, hugged Sprout, while McGonagall sat, stunned.
"Drinks all around, and on the house!" Tom called, beaming. He waved his wand at a corner of the pub, and a fiddle jumped up off a chair and began playing lively jigs, and the pub danced the night away.
At the Burrow, there was an air of celebration and excitement, too, but no one there had heard the news. Resplendent in a tuxedo that was far more fancy than anything he had worn before, making him wonder where on earth his parents had dug up the gold to pay for the tux, Ron Weasley stood upon a platform that had been erected in honor of the occasion. Ron had been well pleased with how well the whole thing had come together on such short notice. He was more nervous than he had ever been in his life, but his excitement was barely containable. Today, he was going to be married to Hermione Granger. Ron waited patiently as the last-minute details were being worked out and the last of the two extended families that had been able to make the wedding were seated.
In the kitchen of the Burrow, Mrs. Weasley and Mrs. Granger were admiring Hermione, all decked out in her bridal gown. It was a beautiful sleeveless flowing dress, and Hermione looked stunning. Ginny, the sole maid of honor, sat beside her mother, beaming, but oddly quiet.
"Have we forgotten everything?" Mrs. Weasley asked, more to herself than to anyone else, trying to ignore Hermione's horrified stare at the idea that there might be anything that they forgot, seeing as she was due to be walked down the aisle in fifteen minutes.
"Don't worry, baby, we're on top of everything," Mrs. Granger assured her daughter, "you look gorgeous. I'm so proud of you, baby." Mrs. Granger kissed Hermione, who relaxed a bit.
"Oh, yes, there's the seating," Mrs. Weasley said, apparently unaware that anything else had been said, "and I've gotten all the seats saved for us…let's see, there's Bill and Charlie, the twins, they requested seats for Angelina and Alicia beside them, my brothers and the other extended family will be behind us…Hermione's extended family will be behind her mother…Ginny, dear, do you want to save a seat for anyone? You're beside your father; your brothers are beside me."
"Yes," Ginny said, "I want to save a seat beside me for Harry." Mrs. Weasley knelt down beside Ginny.
"That's sweet, dear, but…erm…we haven't heard from Harry, and I don't know if he'll come…or if he even knows…"
"He'll come, mum, I know he will," Ginny said, almost dreamily.
"Ginny, sugar, I…"
"He'll come, mum, and I want him to sit beside me," Ginny said, more forcefully. Mrs. Weasley shrugged to herself, and waved her wand, making another 'reserved' card appear from thin air, and then banished it to the appropriate seat.
"Now, that should be everything…where's Arthur?" Mrs. Weasley muttered distractedly. Now Hermione sent a look at her mother that was positively panicky, while Mrs. Granger looked sad. With her father dead, there was no 'father of the bride' for Hermione, and when Hermione had initially told her mother of her and Ron's plan to marry the previous night, Mrs. Granger had asked Hermione if she might do the honors of walking her down the aisle, and Hermione had initially consented. However, in a bout of last-minute revision earlier that day, Hermione had said that she wanted to go traditional, in the Muggle sense, and asked Mr. Weasley if he might be willing. Mr. Weasley had been delighted. Mrs. Granger had understood, and supported her daughter's decision, but admitted that she had been excited by the prospect of giving her daughter away in marriage and was a tad disappointed.
Finally, Mr. Weasley appeared, dressed in his absolute best, and offered his arm to a now very nervous, but very excited Hermione, just as the same invisible trumpet that had played at Bill and Fleur and Remus and Tonks' double wedding (Hermione had consented to mixing the traditions of a Muggle wedding with those of a wizard wedding) sounded off, and Mr. Weasley led Hermione in, trailed by Ginny, carrying Hermione's veil.
After Hermione, beaming, was settled in place beside Ron, Bill, who Ron had asked to officiate the ceremony, got up from his seat, and moved regally to his position behind the couple.
Harry, who had spent the last night with Lupin, recuperating at number twelve, Grimmauld Place, approached the Burrow hesitantly. He didn't know if the others had heard the news or not, and he wasn't exactly sure what sort of reception he was up to, but he also knew he wanted to see Ron and Hermione more than anything, and Ginny even more than that, but he was still very tired, despite his lie-in, and he didn't think he'd completely recovered from his magical exhaustion he'd sustained the night before. He hid behind a rather large tree in the Burrow's yard, trying to sort himself out. He chanced a peek around the trunk of the tree, and noticed that there was some sort of gathering happening in the Burrow's yard. Probably a celebration of Voldy's defeat, Harry thought dryly, So much for a calm reunion. Sighing, Harry accepted defeat, and began to hesitantly walk towards the crowd.
"HARRY!"
"Do you, Hermione Jane Granger, to have and to hold, to cherish and love, protect and nurture, to share your soul with from now till the end of forever, take Ronald Bilius Weasley as your lawfully and magically bound husband?" Bill said, reciting an oath that was a combination of the Muggle and wizard oaths.
"Yes," Hermione said softly, beaming, her eyes swimming with happy tears.
"Do you, Ronald Bilius Weasley, to have and to hold, to cherish and love, protect and nurture, to share your soul with from now till the end of forever, take Hermione Jane Granger as your lawfully and magically bound wife? Ronald? Er…Ron?" For Ron was not paying attention. His attention was drawn to someone who was slowly, hesitantly, almost shyly approaching them from behind the big oak just a few feet away from the marriage platform. The body was very familiar, but no…it couldn't be…but if it was…it was too good to be true…it meant…he was gone, and he had survived…but no, it wasn't…Merlin, it was!
"HARRY!" Ron yelled. Ignoring the shocked looks given to him by Bill, Hermione and the crowd, Ron jumped off the platform and pelted down the aisle towards Harry. When he got there, oblivious to everyone watching him, Ron pulled Harry into a bone-breaking hug.
"Harry! Does this mean…what I think it means…you survived…I can't believe it, but…not important…you've returned to us…that's what matters…Mione and I…Ginny and the others and mum and dad…been so worried about you…is it…did you do it?" Ron spluttered, his eyes swimming. Harry nodded, and the force of Ron's hug doubled. As soon as he released him, Harry was then smothered in Hermione's embrace.
"Harry…I can't believe it…you did it!" Hermione sobbed into Harry's shoulder. Finally, she too released him, and stepped back, allowing Harry to see them properly, dressed in their finery. His jaw dropped.
"Ron! Does this mean…what I think it means?" It was Ron's turn to nod, and Harry enveloped his two best friends into equally strong hugs. Soon, Harry found himself being hugged by the rest of the Weasleys and Mrs. Granger. When they finally had all released him, he looked around for a certain someone.
"Where's…" he began, but stopped, finding himself looking right at Ginny. Her face registered nothing but shock. The two just stared for a few minutes, the awkwardness of the situation growing with every breath they took. Ginny looked ready to cry, but no tears showed themselves even so, and instead, Ginny was starting to look angry.
"Do you have any idea…" she said in a deadly whisper, "what I've been through? How scared I've been? How much I've missed you?" Harry couldn't help but smile very slightly. It was wonderful to hear her voice again.
"Do you know how much I've missed you?" Harry responded equally softly, but warmly.
"Is it really you?" Ginny said, the anger gone. Harry nodded. Ginny threw herself onto him, her tears now freely falling. The two just held each other for what must have been close to half an hour, each reveling in the comfort of the other's embrace, a love stronger from pain emanating from them. Finally, Harry broke the embrace, still keeping his hand on Ginny's cheek.
"Ginny," Harry said softly, "I made a promise to us that we would marry you as soon as I returned. I'm back now Ginny, and I want to keep that promise." Ginny looked shell shocked for a moment, but then beamed at Harry.
"I want to keep that promise, too," she said, resting her head on Harry's shoulders.
"Are you two up for another double wedding?" Harry asked, grinning at Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. Mrs. Weasley, unable to speak, due to emotion, merely smiled. Mr. Weasley, though not as choked up as his wife, also settled on a nonverbal response, smiling broadly and nodding.
"Wait, Harry!" Ginny said, half laughing, half fearful, "I don't have a gown, and you don't have a tux!" Harry smiled.
"Last night, while I was naked and facing imminent danger…" he paused, until the giggles from his truthful, but lighthearted rendition of the state he had been in, arriving at Castle Stalker passed, "I learned that you can slightly manipulate all those transfiguration spells Professor McGonagall taught us. Hang on…" he withdrew his wand, and pointed it at Ginny.
"Don't worry, my love, this won't hurt." Harry said in lighthearted reassurance. He pictured Ginny in a bridal gown and with nonverbal magic, changed Ginny's formalwear to a beautiful bridal gown that was almost exactly like Hermione's, except that Ginny's had lace sleeves that extended just over Ginny's biceps.
"Wow, Harry!" Hermione and Ginny said, simultaneously, Hermione commenting on Harry's magic, and Ginny commenting on Harry's choice of gown.
"I love it, Harry," Ginny whispered in awe. Harry merely smiled and kissed her, pointing his wand at himself and transforming his day-to-day clothes into a handsome tuxedo.
A few minutes later saw the couples back on the podium that Mr. Weasley had enlarged slightly, Bill reiterating Ron's vows, so that Ron could say 'I do' properly. With eyes only for his beloved wife, Harry did not really take in Bill's reading of Ginny's vows, nor his own, until Bill got to 'take Ginevra Molly Weasley as your magically bound (Bill didn't bother with the Muggle parts of his speech for Harry or Ginny) wife' Harry's ears pricked up, and he took in every word.
"I do," he said. Bill smiled,
"Husbands, you may now…" he choked on a joyous sob, "…kiss your brides." Harry bent down to kiss Ginny, feeling her soft hair tickle his face. When Harry surfaced from the kiss, his glance swept over Ginny's shoulders, and he barely kept in a gasp. There, centered in his line of vision was the ghostly form of Albus Dumbledore, who smiled at Harry, his arms over two people beside him, and a dog lying peacefully at his feet. The woman to Dumbledore's left was Harry's mother, who beamed at him, sobbing, pearly white tears streaming down her cheeks. The person to Dumbledore's right was Harry's father, who was also sobbing very unashamedly. The dog then transformed into Sirius, who was fighting his tears (a loosing battle) making him look like the sun was hurting his eyes. All four beamed at him, waved, and disappeared. Harry smiled at where they had been, and nuzzled his head down into Ginny's neck, kissing her again, and softly and gently sucking her pulse point. Ginny giggled, and playfully swatted him on his neck.
"Come on, Mr. Romantic, stop that, or we'll miss the dancing." Harry grinned, and followed Ginny over to where Hermione and Ron were already starting to dance to a waltz by the wonderful string octet that Mr. Weasley had booked for Bill's wedding.
The celebrations of the two weddings had not ended until well past six in the evening. Fred and George had taken it upon themselves to go into Diagon Alley and round up any of Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny's friends who were in town, and invite them to the feast. Lee Jordan, Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnegan, Neville Longbottom, the whole Gryffindor Quidditch team—the original one, with whom Harry had made his explosive debut—showed up, as well as Professors McGonagall, Sprout, Flitwick and Madame Pomfrey. Hagrid had come with McGonagall and Sprout, and when Harry had told Ginny of his promise, Mrs. Weasley had run off to owl Remus and Tonks, who had been there as well, to congratulate the newlyweds. Harry, Ron, Ginny and Hermione had all been milling around, chatting with their various well-wishers, eating cake and lapping up the celebrations, each happier than they could have ever imagined, when suddenly, Harry stopped in front of a well-wisher, and his jaw dropped. Aunt Petunia, with Dudley in her wake.
"Let me just say this quickly, or I'll loose my nerve," she said before Harry could say anything, "I just want to say…I'm sorry, I guess."
"You…you…what?" Harry spluttered, sure he had misunderstood.
"I…owe you an explanation," Petunia continued, "I never…I guess I never planned to end up treating you the way I did. I hope you accept that I mean it when I say that I never hated Lil, and your father never mistreated me when Lil brought him home to meet your grandparents…I mean, your mother and I always found time to play together and be there for each other, despite her being a witch. When she died…I couldn't help but be angry at the wizarding world, and then I met Vernon, who despised magic, and it just became an easy façade to hide behind. I never thought I'd be in a hatred of your world so deep, I…I wasn't brave like Lil, and Vernon's hatred of magic offered me the easy way out. I'm sorry, Harry, and I hope you can find it in you to forgive me someday." She extended her hand, which Harry took hesitantly, followed by Dudley's massive hand over his own, while Dudley grunted his own apology. Petunia then turned her eyes on Ginny, whose own eyes were narrowed with intense dislike.
"Ginny, is it? I just want to say, enjoy your time with Harry. In truth, unlike what I've said all these years, he's a good boy, and I wish you two happiness." Ginny's eyes grew with shock as she too shook Aunt Petunia's hand.
"Now, Harry," Aunt Petunia ordered, "go back to that party and have a good time." Harry grinned, as he realized for the first time, he was able to willingly obey his aunt. She returned his smile, and steered Dudley out of there, and Harry returned to the party.
Hermione was pleasantly surprised to see Mark Creek come up the Burrow's drive a few minutes after Petunia and Dudley had left. As the two caught up for the second time, it seemed that Mark had regained the personality he had before Hermione went off to Hogwarts, joking about how he had managed to get to the Burrow by walking around with his eyes closed. He chatted easily with both Ron and Hermione, wishing them the absolute best.
"Hermione, I hope we can become friends again," Mark had said as he prepared to leave at about 9:30, "I always liked those days. I apologize, too, for how I treated you at Auntie's house. Once again, you were right about me, and I understand now that while you might be magical, my parents' death is not your fault."
"Of course we can still be friends." Hermione had replied. Smiling, Mark had embraced her, shook Ron's hand, and left.
The party had been fun, but it had been exhausting, which was why nighttime found the two couples lounging beside the pond, watching the beautiful night sky.
"Org, I ate too much," Ron mumbled massaging his stomach.
"I'll say!" Hermione said, giggling, "You had, what, ten helpings of our cake?" Ron grinned and kissed his wife.
"He'll have a monopoly on the bathroom tomorrow, Hermione." Ginny said, giggling as well. Harry said nothing, but merely cuddled Ginny, smiling. A comfortable silence fell about the group, each absorbed with their loved ones.
"Nice night." Ginny commented, rolling over onto Harry's back and looking at the night sky.
"Yeah," Hermione said, rolling over, "hey Harry, do you know that old Nursery rhyme?"
"I don't know," Harry responded, "for one thing, you didn't give me a title, and for another, Aunt Petunia never told me nursery rhymes." Hermione smiled at him.
"Join in if it is familiar," she said, "mum used to sing this to me as a lullaby." She grinned again, and began to recite.
"Star Light,
Star bright,
First start I see tonight,
I wish I may,
I wish I might,
Have the wish I wish tonight"
She finished with Harry, who had indeed overheard his aunt say the same rhyme to his cousin when he was very young.
"Cute," Ginny said, "but I don't need to make any wishes. I've got all I want in my life right now…well, except perhaps children, and I hope I can trust you to help there at some point, my husband?" Harry grinned.
"Sure. I want kids too." Ginny smiled and kissed him. Harry smiled back at her, but when his gaze ran over Hermione, who easily looked happier in that moment on Ron's lap than he'd ever seen her before, his face became sad.
"What's wrong, Harry?" Hermione and Ginny asked simultaneously.
"Oh…Voldemort…he said awful things about you all. He said that I'd be doing myself an honor to kill you, Hermione. I expect he probably thought I would be doing you an honor, too, and he likened Gin to a scarlet woman, and he basically called Ron trash, not to mention your families…he couldn't spare a nice thing to say at all."
"You shouldn't have listened to him, Harry," Ron said, "Nothing he says is worth our time."
"I agree," Hermione said, "besides, you, Ron and Gin all know that it would not be an honor to kill me, and that's fine by me. It –" she reddened a bit "– means a lot to me that you like me as a witch and as a Muggle."
"It means a lot to me that you three would be my friends. That's why it hurt so much to hear Voldemort hurt your pride."
"If you think that daft wanker could make me stop loving you Harry, then you're wrong. I don't care what he likens me to, I'd never let that affect me. Besides, he's dead. Thanks to you, Harry, he's dead."
"I saw my parents at the celebrations today," Harry blurted out, without thinking about it, except that what Ginny had said reminded him of it.
"As ghosts?" Hermione asked. Harry nodded, Hermione's brow furrowed.
"But…but…" she stuttered a bit, "I was reading about ghosts when dad…" she choked on a sob, and Ron tightened his embrace about her, "…passed away. Well, you know, I was missing him and wanted to see him…but apparently only wizards can return as ghosts, and very few choose to do so, only those wizards who fear death." Harry squeezed Hermione's hand comfortingly.
"I know," he said, "Nearly-Headless Nick told me the same thing when I spoke to him after Sirius died. But…people always say that Dumbledore was the most powerful wizard alive. I dunno, I guess this would be the sort of thing he could pull off…somehow or another."
"Do you think it means anything?" Hermione asked.
"Yes. I think it means that, whatever Sybill Trelawney said about me in her prophecy, I've fulfilled my true calling today. I was never destined to bring Voldemort down, I was destined to marry a beautiful girl," he smiled at Ginny, kissing her forehead, "and carve out a life with her. That's what I see when I look at those stars. That's the wish I wish for."
"That's true," Ron said, "but I agree with Ginny. I don't need to make a wish, cause you know what I see when I look at the stars? I see a future with the four of us together in it."
"Here's to that future," Harry said, raising an imaginary glass,
"Here's to happiness and hope," Ginny added.
"To friends and loves, Muggles and wizards coexisting peacefully, and to House Elves insured decent working conditions and wages," Hermione said, causing the group to chuckle. Ron yawned.
"Here's to bed," he said, "and sharing it with the most beautiful witch I know." The others laughed.
"Cheers," they said together, and got up, heading back to the Burrow. From somewhere, a Phoenix trilled its song, and the four friends smiled. It was a sign. Of what could be debated, but I think it is a safe assumption that they all knew it was a sign that somewhere out there, there was another adventure waiting for them.
