A Time After the Fall
By: Hannah
Chapter Three:15 Years Later
Note: I don't won it. Please give me feedback!
So I am informed that indeed some one has taken an interest in this small story I am attempting to tell. Bravo for you. I have told you of how Harry met and married Mia and they had a few children but now I would like to turn the tale over to a new thread. While Harry was living his wonderful life and settling down in the recesses of California's great north, Ronald Weasley was also living his life. So now we will go there to see that man.
If twenty years ago you had sat down with one Ron Weasley and told him that in twenty years he would be considered the best minister of magic anyone had ever seen, he would have laughed outright. He would have then asked you which of his brothers put you up to the prank and walk off muttering about this and that and how he still hasn't finished his potions homework and would you please tell which ever brother it was to go shove his face in mud? Thank you. But now, that's what he was. Not known as The best friend of the now long gone Harry Potter, but instead, the best minister of magic the wizarding world had ever seen. He was a brilliant strategist and for once he did outshine his brothers.
Fred and George's joke shop was so successful now that they had stores all over the world. Caretakers at schools all over the place had most if not all of their items on the list of things forbidden and teachers everywhere dreaded finding that fateful canary cream on their plat at dinner. But both were wealthy and wise in the ways of children and trouble and both were equally loved by the children who shamelessly bought up any and everything they could from their shops.
Ginny meanwhile, was a wonderful muggle studies professor at Hogwarts (much to her father's delight). She was loved by all the students and not just because she would sneak them samples of the twins latest and greatest. She made learning fun but demanded a lot from her students. They in turn trusted her and at break times one could always find a crowd of students in her room asking about her years with the great Harry Potter.
But not all of his brothers were as well off. I mean sure, Bill and Charlie were still happily working as they always had but there were others to consider. Like Percy. Percy, I am woefully sad to say, was dead. Not fifteen years ago when Voldmort had burst into the ministry building and killed old Fudge where he sat pouring over reports that he was publishing about the absurdities of the need for more security in the magic world. Percy had just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and had gotten in the way when the first curse was fired off. His own death only severe to stall Fudge's death for a few seconds more and only made Voldmort angrier. The next day Harry, Harry's girlfriend Lisa... a Ravenclaw... Lisa something-or-other, and Voldmort had all just seemingly fallen off the face of the earth. But Ron still outshone them all.
He thought he was the luckiest man alive. Married to the best woman on the face of the earth with three wonderful children that were all ether in or a graduate of Hogwarts, more money in his vault than stars in the sky, and the job he never thought he'd have.
But it still wasn't quit perfect. The only thing missing in his life was a best friend. Sure he had friends but not real ones. Some were after his money and others after his power. They fawned over him like the girls at school had fawned over Victor Krum. Not because they wanted to get to know him or because they thought he was devilishly handsome. No, it was because they wanted to say they knew him. They'd been to his house for dinner. Ron finally understood why Krum spent most of his time locked away in the library. None of his 'friends' knew the things the Harry, Hermione, and he had shared back at school. And there was no replacing that.
But now Harry was gone to God only who knows where and Hermione was, well that was too much to bear. When Harry had left, Ron and Hermione had tried to console each other but teenage hormones had managed to get in the way and they fell in love. Or perhaps not so much love and lust. So they fell in lust and after graduation, when they'd still heard nothing of Harry, they got married. A big white affair with friends and family like it was supposed to be but Harry wasn't best man. They had a son named James and life was happy for a while. Soon, all of it , it turned out, had been too much for the young couple. They wanted to go out in the world and pursue their dreams. Not raise this little boy.
As much as Ron loved his oldest son, every time he looked at him he was reminded of the darkest times if his life. The day he'd come home to hear James crying at the top of his lungs and a note from Hermione saying that she was gone to follow her dreams. That this just wasn't it.
And so Ron had thrown himself into his work and James (their son) had been left with more baby-sitters than Ron could remember. Ron knew it was no way to raise a child. He himself had come from a family where contact and interaction were done without question. But now his son barely knew him from the man on the street and as time went by, Ron began to realize what he was doing to his son. But it was too late. They fought endlessly when in each other's presence and as much as James loved his father in that way that all children do, there was always that tension between them. The memories of those long gone years still fresh in their minds.
James was nineteen now and a fairly decent Quidditch player. He played chaser for the Chudly Cannons. As much as Ron had loved the team in his younger years, his son's status on the team held him back. As minister he could have tickets to any game he wanted but his poor relationship with his son would have deterred from the game. So while James spent the days and months avoiding his father with obvious clarity, Ron spent the time doing the same in a more subtle way claiming he had to finish one project or another as an excuse to not attend those games. The pain cut both of them deeply yet neither would admit to it.
Hermione's freedom, on the other hand, had not been long lasting at all. She had married some guy named Delmar Kellman (Ron knew him briefly from some where but could not recall where) and had three more children.. Not that Ron was one to talk. He'd gone off and had two more.
So that was Ron's life for the last 20 years. As he walked down the road to his wonderfully opulent home, his thoughts wandered back to the meeting he'd just come from. Not that the exact words had an impression on his mind. No, it was what they had talked about. Since it was late May, they'd had their first meeting about the annual Harry Potter Day which was held every year on Harry's Birthday.
It was a fun time of year for most folks. Trying to see who could look the most like him using both magical and muggle means, parting late into the night, and just celebrating freedom from the dark lord.
But for Ron and a few others, it was a sad time. A time to remember the times they'd shared. Both the good and the bad. A time to remember the Harry they'd gotten know either in the classroom or on the Qudditch pitch.
As Ron walked through the old town of Hogsmead, he remembered the times they'd spent in the local pub or candy shop. The pranks and adventures. Every little memory came rushing back at him forcing tears to his eyes. That all seemed so long ago. A life time almost. But time marches on doesn't it? And Ron had once prided himself on not dwelling on the past. It was time to live that.
Walking along he looked at the kids of today. AS different as they all were, they still seemed to remind him of some escapade he'd been on with Harry. That red head was Ginny in the Chamber of secrets and that boy? Well he was Victor Krum. Yes, they were unwittingly repeating a secret history that they had no way of knowing but they did it in their own way.
Looking up Ron saw that he'd wandered to one his brothers' stores. How ironic that the symbol of his childhood should mark the passing of these thoughts. He smiled as the happy memories once more assaulted him and walked on. Past the places they had hid and fought as children. Past the past and into the presently coming future. This would be the best Harry Potter Day ever. And nothing, come hell or high water, was going to ruin it for the minister.
TBC..........?
By: Hannah
Chapter Three:15 Years Later
Note: I don't won it. Please give me feedback!
So I am informed that indeed some one has taken an interest in this small story I am attempting to tell. Bravo for you. I have told you of how Harry met and married Mia and they had a few children but now I would like to turn the tale over to a new thread. While Harry was living his wonderful life and settling down in the recesses of California's great north, Ronald Weasley was also living his life. So now we will go there to see that man.
If twenty years ago you had sat down with one Ron Weasley and told him that in twenty years he would be considered the best minister of magic anyone had ever seen, he would have laughed outright. He would have then asked you which of his brothers put you up to the prank and walk off muttering about this and that and how he still hasn't finished his potions homework and would you please tell which ever brother it was to go shove his face in mud? Thank you. But now, that's what he was. Not known as The best friend of the now long gone Harry Potter, but instead, the best minister of magic the wizarding world had ever seen. He was a brilliant strategist and for once he did outshine his brothers.
Fred and George's joke shop was so successful now that they had stores all over the world. Caretakers at schools all over the place had most if not all of their items on the list of things forbidden and teachers everywhere dreaded finding that fateful canary cream on their plat at dinner. But both were wealthy and wise in the ways of children and trouble and both were equally loved by the children who shamelessly bought up any and everything they could from their shops.
Ginny meanwhile, was a wonderful muggle studies professor at Hogwarts (much to her father's delight). She was loved by all the students and not just because she would sneak them samples of the twins latest and greatest. She made learning fun but demanded a lot from her students. They in turn trusted her and at break times one could always find a crowd of students in her room asking about her years with the great Harry Potter.
But not all of his brothers were as well off. I mean sure, Bill and Charlie were still happily working as they always had but there were others to consider. Like Percy. Percy, I am woefully sad to say, was dead. Not fifteen years ago when Voldmort had burst into the ministry building and killed old Fudge where he sat pouring over reports that he was publishing about the absurdities of the need for more security in the magic world. Percy had just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and had gotten in the way when the first curse was fired off. His own death only severe to stall Fudge's death for a few seconds more and only made Voldmort angrier. The next day Harry, Harry's girlfriend Lisa... a Ravenclaw... Lisa something-or-other, and Voldmort had all just seemingly fallen off the face of the earth. But Ron still outshone them all.
He thought he was the luckiest man alive. Married to the best woman on the face of the earth with three wonderful children that were all ether in or a graduate of Hogwarts, more money in his vault than stars in the sky, and the job he never thought he'd have.
But it still wasn't quit perfect. The only thing missing in his life was a best friend. Sure he had friends but not real ones. Some were after his money and others after his power. They fawned over him like the girls at school had fawned over Victor Krum. Not because they wanted to get to know him or because they thought he was devilishly handsome. No, it was because they wanted to say they knew him. They'd been to his house for dinner. Ron finally understood why Krum spent most of his time locked away in the library. None of his 'friends' knew the things the Harry, Hermione, and he had shared back at school. And there was no replacing that.
But now Harry was gone to God only who knows where and Hermione was, well that was too much to bear. When Harry had left, Ron and Hermione had tried to console each other but teenage hormones had managed to get in the way and they fell in love. Or perhaps not so much love and lust. So they fell in lust and after graduation, when they'd still heard nothing of Harry, they got married. A big white affair with friends and family like it was supposed to be but Harry wasn't best man. They had a son named James and life was happy for a while. Soon, all of it , it turned out, had been too much for the young couple. They wanted to go out in the world and pursue their dreams. Not raise this little boy.
As much as Ron loved his oldest son, every time he looked at him he was reminded of the darkest times if his life. The day he'd come home to hear James crying at the top of his lungs and a note from Hermione saying that she was gone to follow her dreams. That this just wasn't it.
And so Ron had thrown himself into his work and James (their son) had been left with more baby-sitters than Ron could remember. Ron knew it was no way to raise a child. He himself had come from a family where contact and interaction were done without question. But now his son barely knew him from the man on the street and as time went by, Ron began to realize what he was doing to his son. But it was too late. They fought endlessly when in each other's presence and as much as James loved his father in that way that all children do, there was always that tension between them. The memories of those long gone years still fresh in their minds.
James was nineteen now and a fairly decent Quidditch player. He played chaser for the Chudly Cannons. As much as Ron had loved the team in his younger years, his son's status on the team held him back. As minister he could have tickets to any game he wanted but his poor relationship with his son would have deterred from the game. So while James spent the days and months avoiding his father with obvious clarity, Ron spent the time doing the same in a more subtle way claiming he had to finish one project or another as an excuse to not attend those games. The pain cut both of them deeply yet neither would admit to it.
Hermione's freedom, on the other hand, had not been long lasting at all. She had married some guy named Delmar Kellman (Ron knew him briefly from some where but could not recall where) and had three more children.. Not that Ron was one to talk. He'd gone off and had two more.
So that was Ron's life for the last 20 years. As he walked down the road to his wonderfully opulent home, his thoughts wandered back to the meeting he'd just come from. Not that the exact words had an impression on his mind. No, it was what they had talked about. Since it was late May, they'd had their first meeting about the annual Harry Potter Day which was held every year on Harry's Birthday.
It was a fun time of year for most folks. Trying to see who could look the most like him using both magical and muggle means, parting late into the night, and just celebrating freedom from the dark lord.
But for Ron and a few others, it was a sad time. A time to remember the times they'd shared. Both the good and the bad. A time to remember the Harry they'd gotten know either in the classroom or on the Qudditch pitch.
As Ron walked through the old town of Hogsmead, he remembered the times they'd spent in the local pub or candy shop. The pranks and adventures. Every little memory came rushing back at him forcing tears to his eyes. That all seemed so long ago. A life time almost. But time marches on doesn't it? And Ron had once prided himself on not dwelling on the past. It was time to live that.
Walking along he looked at the kids of today. AS different as they all were, they still seemed to remind him of some escapade he'd been on with Harry. That red head was Ginny in the Chamber of secrets and that boy? Well he was Victor Krum. Yes, they were unwittingly repeating a secret history that they had no way of knowing but they did it in their own way.
Looking up Ron saw that he'd wandered to one his brothers' stores. How ironic that the symbol of his childhood should mark the passing of these thoughts. He smiled as the happy memories once more assaulted him and walked on. Past the places they had hid and fought as children. Past the past and into the presently coming future. This would be the best Harry Potter Day ever. And nothing, come hell or high water, was going to ruin it for the minister.
TBC..........?