Harry woke to silence the next morning. That was, except for birds singing and the breeze in the trees outside the open window. As it was, he felt very comfortable where he was. Ginny was in her usual spot, her head tucked under his chin and legs intertwined with his. He marvelled at the soft feel of her skin under his hand, which had slipped up underneath her pyjama top during the night.
He opened his eyes at last and looked around. It took him a few moments to remember why he was in the Hospital Wing. Then he sighed with a mixture of happiness and relief. It was all over now. He could turn his focus away from what he'd had to do to what he wanted to do. He didn't have to worry about Voldemort ruining even more of his life, or anyone else's. And right now he wanted nothing more than to just stay here and cuddle with Ginny.
Gentle rustling of fabric was heard from one of the nearby beds. Harry lifted his head slightly, fumbling with his glasses for a moment and spotted Fleur in the bed next to his. She was awake, smiling at him.
"Good morning, 'Arry."
"Morning," he said and pressed a gentle kiss to Ginny's head, who moaned and stretched slightly, rubbing her nose against his throat before she sighed contentedly.
"Well, we are going to 'ave to start packing soon. We will be going 'ome in a few days, non?" Fleur said.
"You are?" Harry glanced at her. "Well, safe return home, I suppose."
"I am 'oping to get a job 'ere, to eemprove my Eenglish," she said, "Per'aps you know..?"
"Oh! What d'you have in mind?"
"I 'ave been theenking Gringotts," she said.
"I don't know a lot, but Ginny's brother Bill works as a curse-breaker for Gringotts. He was here yesterday; tall bloke with dragon-hide boots and fang earring?"
"Yes, I remember," she smiled secretively, and her cheeks turned slightly pink.
"I'm not sure if he's here still, but if he isn't, I could mention it to him?"
"Zat would be vairy kind, zank you!" she beamed at him.
A thud and a painful moan had her turn around, and Harry to push himself up to see what was going on. Apparently, Cedric had rolled too near the edge in his sleep and landed on the floor.
"Ouch!" he declared and crawled back into bed, his cheeks red.
"Small bed?" Harry teased.
"Yeah," Cedric said, "seems to have shrunk during the night."
"Harry?" Ginny's voice sounded muffled against his chest.
"Yes?"
"Don't move." She pulled him back down, and he had to struggle not to laugh.
"Anyvon want to come flying?" Viktor asked. He was already sitting in his bed, searching his bedside for clothes. "Haff anyvon checked the clock?"
"I'd like to go flying, yes, but I doubt Madam Pomfrey would let us go just yet," Harry said.
"I don't think I should attempt that. My head is still hurting from that blasted spider, and with that Cruciatus Curse – weren't you hit by that too, Harry?"
"Huh? Oh. Yeah," Harry said dismissively.
"That was awful! I've never imagined that anything could be that painful! I mean, I completely understand how one could be torturet to insanity with it, much less making it an unforgivable," Cedric sad as he leaned over his nightstand to reach the glass of water placed there.
"I don't know… I mean, the curse of our bond is ten times worse," Harry muttered.
Cedric's grip slipped, and he fell on the floor for a second time that morning. "Ten times? I mean, really? That's not possible! How could you live, much less swim and fetch Ginny during the second task?"
"I had to," Harry said simply.
Fortunately, the conversation was interrupted when Madam Pomfrey entered from her room. "Are you awake already?" she asked, slightly surprised.
"Yes. Vhere are my clothes? I vont to go flying. Harry and I need practice," Viktor declared loudly.
"Flying before breakfast, Mr. Krum? I'm sure that not even your coach would approve of that," Madam Pomfrey said and moved over to Harry. She grabbed his arm and removed the bandages from it.
Viktor flushed. "Vell, he is not here," he said firmly. "Vhere are my clothes?"
"No-one has been here with your clothes, Mr. Krum. I suggest you wait patiently; I'm sure someone will come by with some clothes for you soon. In the meantime you are going to eat breakfast. The house-elves should be here shortly." She inspected Harry's wound a little, and gently dabbed some potion on it before she moved to Cedric and removed his bandages as well.
It was half an hour later, after breakfast, that the doors to the Hospital Wing burst open, and Hermione, Ron, Neville and Fred and George burst through. They were each carrying a set of clothes; Fred dropped his in Fleur's bed.
"One of the Beauxbatons girls were asked by your headmistress to fetch it when we said we were going to see you – I say, why don't they come themselves and hand them to you?"
"Zey don't like me, mostly. Zey are jealous of my beauty!" she said, but smiled a little to Fred and thanked him.
"Karkaroff's run away, though," George said. He handed Viktor his clothes, and he shimmied out of his night clothes without the care that a lot of others were watching(he hadn't cared while swimming in just his swimming trunks in the lake in January either, though).
"I vood not be surprised," he said, "he is a coward, I am thinking."
"He tattled on his fellow Death Eaters to escape Azkaban himself," Harry explained and accepted the clean robes from Ron. "So naturally, he knew they wouldn't be particularly welcoming. He knew, like all the other Death Eaters, that Riddle was returning." He pulled his nightshirt and pants off, and slipped on his Hogwarts robes. "Ginny, are you getting dressed?"
"In the middle of a group with boys? Even though three of them are my brothers? Not a chance!"
She grabbed the clothes that Hermione had layed out for her and hurried off to the bathroom.
"What's going on outside the Hospital Wing?" Cedric asked accepting the clothes that Neville got him.
"The Aurors are still here," Hermione said, "Bill and Mrs. Weasley too – Mr. Weasley had to go to work."
Fleur perked up at the mention of Bill. Harry beamed at her.
"We'll introduce you."
"The press is here too," Neville said, giving Harry a warning look.
"With Skeeter?" Harry asked and groaned when Neville nodded.
"Vot do you say, Harry? Should ve go flying? Escape the hounds?"
"Very tempting, Viktor," Harry said as Ginny returned. "Madam Pomfrey, can we leave now?"
Madam Pomfrey turned and looked at them before she sighed. "Oh, very well! I don't want to see you in here for the rest of the term, Potter," she said firmly. "Enough is enough."
"Totally agree," Harry said and burst out through the door, Viktor hot on his heels. "Think they've fixed the Quidditch pitch yet?"
"I doubt it," Viktor said, casually answering in Bulgarian.
"Still, they probably won't mind that we use it," Harry said and ran up to the Gryffindor Common Roon, straight through it and up to the dorms.
"Harry!" Seamus shouted when he got down, "is it true that You-Know-Who returned, and that you killed him?"
Harry paused. He noticed that absolutely everyone in the room were watching him. "Do you take me for a liar, Finnigan?" he raised a brow at his old room mate.
"Of course not! Only wanted to know if it was true, mate!"
"In that case you're our hero!" Angelina commented.
Beside her Alicia Spinnet shuddered. "Just imagine if You-Know-Who was alive right now! We'd be at war right now!"
"No, don't worry, Alicia. He's as dead as you can get," Harry said dryly.
"But he returned, didn't he?" Parvati Patil asked.
"Umm, yeah… Look, why don't you ask... err… someone else. I'm busy."
"Are you going out flying, Harry?" Angelina asked interestedly.
"Yes, umm… with Viktor – see you!" he said and ran off through the portrait hole.
Viktor was already in the air when Harry reached the half-burnt Quidditch pitch. He caught a glimpse of Bagman, who was approaching the school from Hogsmeade in his bright yellow robes along with none other than Percy, but ignored them both for now. He wanted to fly off some steam. Viktor released the snitch, and they began their chase. This time their dives were even harder, with all the burnt pieces of the hedges poking up from the ground here and there.
Rather than the usual exercises in addition, they kept to flying this time, revelling in the passion that they both shared. Ginny soon appeared along with Bill, Mrs. Weasley, Hermione and the twins, drawn to the pitch to see Harry fly. To their great surprise, Fleur and Cedric joined a little while later, having seen Viktor and Harry in the sky all the way from the castle.
"Oh, I just remembered!" Ginny said and turned to Bill. "Bill, this is Fleur Delacour; she's the Beauxbatons champion. She told Harry she's interested in a job at Gringotts, and he thought that maybe you could help?"
"Yeah. I can see if I can put in a good word for you, but I don't think it should be much of a problem. They need people, and I doubt they'd say no to a TriWizard champion," Bill said.
"Are you working at ze bank too?" she asked curiously.
Ginny noticed her distinct desire to keep on Bill's attention, so she turned away to talk to Cedric, who was admiring Harry flying.
"I work for Gringotts, yes, but as a curse-breaker in Egypt," Bill said.
"Ooh!" she exclaimed. "'Ow eez zat? Eez eet 'ard work?"
Deciding not to eavesdrop, Ginny moved slightly further away, down the bench, but not near enough to interfere with Ron and Hermione, who were kissing enthusiastically.
"So where is Neville?" Mrs. Weasley asked Ginny, her eyes following Harry as he circled the pitch high up in the air.
"He's with Hannah Abbott. They've really bonded over their interest for Herbology," Ginny explained. And then: "Percy is here."
"What – oh!" Mrs. Weasley leaped up at the sight of Percy climbing up the stands with Bagman, who nearly stumbled as he was too busy watching Harry and Viktor flying. "Percy! Where were you last night?"
"Last night? I wasn't here, of course, but I heard what had happened. Fudge's been going on and on about it. He doesn't want to think it true that You-Know-Who returned, but Madam Bones made him see reason. They've questioned the surviving Death Eaters, and everyone say the same thing. They kept Crouch jr. in for a long time, of course, and I think Mr. Crouch is going to have some trouble soon as well," Percy explained.
"What about the press?" Ginny asked, "what has the Prophet written?"
"The truth. So far at least. Merlin, didn't you read it, Ginny? It was all over the front page this morning that You-Know-Who returned, and that Harry killed him less than an hour after. They've included statements from the questioning of the Death Eaters, and the proof that they could find in that graveyard when they went to have a look. There is no doubt. Also, I think that Harry should write a letter to Madam Bones and tell the whole truth. About his ability to see magic and read minds, and how you picked up on Crouch's plan."
"Why? Why should he tell anyone about it?" Ginny challenged, crossing her arms annoyedly.
"Because she's a trustworthy woman. She'll understand. And I think it's best if she knows the truth," Percy said. "With the soulbond out, what is the big deal?"
"If it became general knowledge that Harry is a mind-reader, people will get afraid of him, and his magic-sensing skills will put away any credibility to him being a good Seeker and anything else like that."
Percy sighed resignedly. "Well, don't bother, then."
"Harry!" Bagman called. He was still standing and watching Harry and Viktor's flying skills, but he was waving at Harry with a large bag of gold in his hand.
Harry soared down towards them and hovered in front of Bagman, eyeing the bag of money critically.
"This is for you. It's well earned, believe me. Fudge was supposed to give it to you last night, but he got angry, and then he was pulled in for questioning, so I'm the one given the honours. Congratulations with the victory." Bagman beamed and shoved the bag of galleons into his hands before he left with a springy gait.
What families do ∙ What families do ∙ What families do
The next days passed so fast Harry thought they seemed to blur together. On the morning the train was set to leave for London, Harry and Ginny saw Hagrid and Madame Maxime helping each other to back the Abraxans into their harness when they got out of the castle, dragging their trunks behind them. Neville had already left ahead with Hannah, and Hermione was waiting for Ron, who had been late packing, as usual. Fred and George were, against the usual, on time, and accompanied Harry and Ginny outside.
"You know, Harry, about Bagman – he's more than what he appears to be. There's nothing bubbly and happy with betting away all his money," Fred said.
"Yeah. Remember after the World Cup, how he tried to trick us with leprechaun gold?" George went on.
"Yes, what about it?" Harry asked.
"Well, we weren't the only ones he tricked. Heaps of people gambled their money with him, and all they got back was leprechaun gold. Turns out he's been borrowing gold from the goblins to gamble, and now he can't repay it," George said. "Lee's dad got into trouble with him too. Didn't get his money back."
"But you got real money," Ginny insisted, "Harry caught him at it!"
"Yeah, lucky for us. Not that it's enough to start a great shop yet, but we're definitely working on it!" Fred beamed.
"Hang on," Harry said. He paused and opened his trunk.
"Oh no, Harry!" Ginny moaned, "if you do that, I'm going to force them to keep their inventions strictly inside their room, or hell will be free forever!"
"You do that, then!" Harry said as he dug through his trunk. He was in much too good a mood to let this go. "There you go," he said to the twins and dumped the bag of gold in George's hands.
"What?" he asked, stunned.
"Take it. I don't want it. Do something useful with it."
"Like opening that store you always wanted – just promise me not to do so before you graduate, or mum will kill both Harry and me," Ginny said firmly.
"I thought you disapproved, Ginny?" Fred asked while George tried to give the bag back to Harry.
"No, I don't. I think it's a brilliant idea. I just don't want to find your jokes strewn around Potter Palace. Let's make a deal, alright? You get the money, and keep everything but your room clean from the joke products, alright?"
"Yeah! Deal!" Fred grinned.
"I don't know… we shouldn't really take this.. it's one thousand galleons – "
"You take it and shut up. I don't want to see it," Harry said and strode off towards the carriages that had appeared. And he froze.
"I would say that they're pretty, but they really aren't," he mused.
"What are you talking about?" Fred asked, confused as he tried to see what Harry was looking at.
"Thestrals. I've known they were there all the time, but this is the first time I really see them. Do you see them, Gin?" Harry looked at her.
She nodded.
"But you didn't see anyone die," George pointed out.
"I saw Riddle die through Harry. Our bond is enough," she said and climbed into one of the carriages.
Harry and Ginny decided to find a compartment of their own and leave Neville alone with Hannah. If he wanted to join them later, he could of course. They settled in a compartment near the front for some peace and quiet.
Their snogging session was interrupted by Malfoy when he opened the door.
Harry glared at him with annoyance. "What the hell do you want, Malfoy? Come to plea for forgiveness now that your dear daddy's been ousted as a Death Eater?"
"No, I was just going to say that… you're not going to believe me, but I told him he shouldn't go when he said the Dark Lord would rise again and called. I told him he'd have chosen the losing side, and it's not worth it, even if… if…" He trailed off and looked oddly uncomfortable and unsure. It was an attitude not commonly seen on a Malfoy, and it took some time to get used to. "Granger helped you out, didn't she? With the tasks?"
"What are you talking about, Malfoy?" Ginny demanded, her fingers toying with her wand.
"N-Nothing! I just wanted to say that… I don't think that mu – muggle-borns are unworthy of magic. That's what father and his friends think, but… I'm not my father – I don't want to be my father. Look, muggle-borns are great. Really. And… and Lupin was the best Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher we had." Malfoy's gaze was firmly locked to the floor. His wand was not even out, so he had made himself vulnerable to an attack.
"What made you change so dramatically?" Harry asked, narrowing his eyes suspiciously. "And why should we believe you?"
"Sophia Kitt, is it? The Ravenclaw?" Ginny smiled at him. Not a mean smile, but for once a gentle smile aimed at Malfoy, whose pale cheeks turned bright red.
"How did you know?"
"'I saw you with her a couple of days before the third task. The library is a great place for a secret snog, isn't it?" she teased. "Not to mention, Sophia and I work together in Transfiguration.
"Well, she's brilliant," he said defensively.
"She must be if she can turn a Malfoy," Harry said. He was slightly surprised to find that Malfoy had fallen for a muggle-born Ravenclaw, but then remembered his own situation with Ginny. "Love can, and will change a lot about a person. Take if from someone who knows personally." He gave a faint smile at Ginny.
"But why are you telling us all this, Malfoy?" Ginny inquired. "Is there anything you want from us?"
"No, I… I just thought I'd say it."
"Perhaps you should apologize to Hermione for calling her a mudblood too," Harry suggested.
Malfoy nodded. "Oh, and about that new law for werewolves – I know that you two had something to do with it. Sophia thinks it's a great law, and as a matter of fact, so do I."
"You do?" Harry asked, mildly surprised, "so you aren't bothered by the fact that Remus Lupin is opening an inn which place humans and non-humans on equal level?"
"Good for them, I say," Malfoy said. He then threw them a couple of short glances before he left.
The train began to move shortly after, but Ron and Hermione still hadn't appeared. Harry and Ginny guessed they wanted some time together before their families barged on en-masse. Neville wasn't seen, either, but Luna Lovegood stepped by for a conversation, which as usual slightly confusing, but nevertheless nice.
Harry sighed happily as he looked at Ginny. She glanced at him and smiled one of her brilliant smiles, one of those that had Harry's heart flutter madly.
"The future looks bright now, doesn't it?"
Harry couldn't help but agree.